After a 5 month hiatus, the Sharks returned to
the ice on Sunday in a game where they kept score. San Jose brought a lineup
primarily of prospects to the Honda Center in Southern California on Sunday
afternoon in an opportunity to evaluate players in a live contest. Anaheim
rolled out regulars Leo Carlsson, Beckett Sennecke, Alex Killorn, Cutter
Gauthier and Mikael Grandlund. Anaheim took advantage of the young roster that
San Jose threw on the ice in a 6-2 decision.
It was a rusty
performance, not surprising for the first contest of the preseason. San Jose
clearly wanted to see how certain players would perform as well as to protect
their core superstars by keeping the likes of Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith and
Michael Misa in Northern California.
One of the Sharks brightest
defensive prospects Eric Pohlkamp opened the game's scoring just 1:37 in with a
shot from the right side that beat Laurent Brossoit. Pohlkamp was not shy in
his desire to activate from the blueline. The young defender frequently pinched
down low. Brossoit was acquired by the Sharks last season, but was not
re-signed in the off-season.
Anaheim answered 80 seconds later when
Jackson Lacombe beat Sharks netminder Eric Comrie.
The Ducks new
multi-millionaire, Carlsson, would give the Ducks the 2-1 lead at 6:07 of the
opening period, deeking Samuel Huo as he drove the slot before lifting the puck
home.
Outside of Pohlkamp's goal, the Sharks were short in the
offensive department. Anaheim held a 9-3 advantage in shots after the first 20
minutes.
Jimmy Huntington squared the game up at 2-2 at the 11:05 mark
of the middle period after the Ducks defense tried pressing in the neutral
zone. Former Duck Brett Leason drew a defender over to the right wing boards
before sliding it to Huntington in the high slot. Huntington simply needed to
walk the puck to Brossoit before burying it.
A Libor Hajek interference penalty helped setup a
Ducks power play goal at 12:15 of the period. Carlsson found Sennecke streaking
up the right side. Sennecke carried it in on net and lifted a shot over the
left shoulder of Matthew Davis, who replaced Comrie in net to start the period.
Sennecke bagged his 2nd goal of the period on a long blast at 16:07 to
double the lead over San Jose. The Sharks struggled to clear the zone, allowing
the Ducks the extra chance which Sennecke buried.
Tristan Luneau
capped the scoring with a long blast from the point, beating Davis for the 6th
and final goal of the game.
Game Notes: * The Good:
Eric Pohlkamp had a goal and was active in the offensive zone all game. Andre
Gasseau was a played good two way hockey and dropped the gloves to light a
fire. He was 7 for 13 in faceoffs to lead San Jose.
* The Bad: Sam
Dickinson struggled defensively and didn't expose his strength on offense. Leo
Sahlen Wallenius had a few coverage miscues that cost San Jose. Was one of 5
skaters that finished -3.
* Anaheim dominated in the faceoff circle
(58%), shots (32-23) and were a +15 with tne 4 goal advantage.
*
Sharks fans got their first look at Ivar Stenberg in practice on Saturday. The
2nd overall pick this past summer did not look overwhelmed on the ice.
* Ilya Samsonov is still not in San Jose as he deals with immigration
challenges.
