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Sharks blow yet another 3rd
period lead
Road trip performance is simply
average
Mediocre teams find a way to be mediocre. The
Sharks are a mediocre team at best right now. As has become a troubling trend,
the Sharks failed to put a team away in the 3rd period in the last leg of their
5-game road trip and end up losing 3-2 to the New Jersey Devils on Sunday
afternoon. San Jose coughed up a 3rd period lead by allowing a pair of goals in
the final frame, losing for the third time in five tries on the trip.
The Devils had only played two games entering play on Sunday afternoon, but
they've made the most of their chances winning all three games. Kyle Palmieri
has been their go-to guy, and it was Palmieri that delivered for New Jersey.
The Devils forward scored a pair of goals, including the goal that tied the
game just 37 seconds into that fateful 3rd period.
Palmieri tied the
game when he jammed home a loose puck while perched on left post as defenseman
Erik Karlsson and Marc-Edouard Vlasic tried to play the puck rather than clear
out the Devils forward. The Sharks lack of physicality cost them during their
east coast swing, but that one play in particular was a glaring example of how
San Jose's finesse first approach doesn't work in front of their own net.
San Jose gagged up the lead less than three minutes later as an Antti
Suomela penalty expired. Jean-Sebastien Dea swept home a shot that squeaked
past Martin Jones, sitting in the crease behind the Sharks goaltender.
The Sharks grabbed the 1-0 lead 3:51 into the 2nd period when Pavelski stuffed
a rebound past Keith Kinkaid from the front of the goal. Brent Burns sent a
shot on goal from the right wing boards that hit Kinkaid in the chest, but the
puck dropped out in front where Pavelski was positioned. The Sharks captain
gathered the rebound and slid the puck around Kinkaid's right pad for his 700th
career NHL point.
Melker Karlsson created a quandary for the Sharks
when he bulldozed Kinkaid for a goaltender interference penalty. That was
followed by a phantom high sticking penalty to Tomas Hertl 44 seconds later to
setup a 5-on-3 power play for New Jersey.
Kyle Palmieri tied the game
with his 5th goal of the season on the ensuing power play. The Devils took
advantage of the chance when Palmieri gathered a feed on the left side then
sized up Martin Jones for a moment before sniping a shot low and to the glove
side.
San Jose reclaimed the lead with 4:25 left in the
middle frame, when Timo Meier jammed home a deflection after Logan Couture lost
the handle on the puck in the high slot. Meier was skating toward the net when
the puck deflected over to the left side. Lightning quick hands netted the
Sharks winger with his 3rd tally of the season.
Two penalties by the
Devils late in the game gave the Sharks some home, but their special teams play
this season has been an abomination, and it simply served to wipe time off the
clock. San Jose pulled Jones in the final minute to setup a 6-on-4 advantage,
but the power play unit was resolved to sit on the perimeter, passing the puck
around the horn rather than attacking the Devils goal.
Game
Notes:
* Erik Karlsson finished the game with a negative plus/minus
once gain. His -3 is the worst on the team.
* Karlsson's high sticking
double minor came after the one-ice officials saw the replay on the jumbo-tron.
The crew was down a man after refereee Garrett Rank suffered an upper body
injury.
* Antti Suomela, Tomas Hertl and Rourke Chartier were a
combined 5-for-15 from the faceoff circle. Puck control was certainly an issue
for the Sharks, especially in the 3rd period. San Jose won only 39% of draws in
the game combined.
* Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Erik Karlson accounted
for 12 of the Sharks 39 shots on goal. Defenseman accounted for 17 shots in
total, confirming the fact that the Sharks have yet to move away from their
fruitless "bomb from the outside" offensive approach.
* Devils winger
Miles Wood lost a couple of his front teeth when a puck caught him in the face.
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think of this story? Post your comments on the
Feeder Forums |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| SJ |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
| NJ |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
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| 2nd period - 1, SJ,
Pavelski 1 (Burns, Kane), 3:51. 2, NJ, Palmieri 5 (Hall), 7:06, (pp). 3, SJ,
Meier 3 (Couture, Hertl), 15:35. |
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| 3rd period - 4, NJ,
Palmieri 6 (Greene, Severson), 0:37. 5, NJ, Dea 2 (Mueller, Hall), 3:25. |
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| 1st period - Greene, NJD
(tripping), 3:14; Suomela, SJ (tripping), 10:47; Burns, SJ (delay of game -
puck over glass), 17:14. |
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| 2nd period - M.
Karlsson, SJ (goaltender interference), 5:27; Hertl, SJ (high sticking), 6:11.
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| 3rd period - Suomela, SJ
(high sticking), 0:56; Braun, SJ (delay of game - puck over glass), 6:13; E.
Karlsson, SJ (high sticking - double minor), 11:52; Noesen, NJ (holding the
stick), 15:44; Bench, NJ (too many men), 18:10. |
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Shots |
Saves |
| SJ - Jones |
36 |
33 |
| NJ - Kinkaid |
39 |
37 |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| SJ |
16 |
13 |
10 |
29 |
| NJ |
9 |
9 |
18 |
18 |
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| 13,809 - Prudential
Center |
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| Referees: Rank,
Chmielewski. Linesmen: Bisebois, Jesse Marquis. |
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