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Another late collapse
Sharks bullied by Utah in 2-1 loss
1/10/2025 - By Mike Lee

The last time the Sharks played the Utah Hockey Club, San Jose blew a 3rd period lead, had their star rookie cross checked within inches of spending more time on the injured reserve and had their head coach cough up $25,000 after expressing himself to the officials with ultra-colorful language. The Sharks did little to avenge any of that on Friday night, as they would surrender a go-ahead goal with 1:32 left in regulation, then allowed their hosts to bully Celebrini in the waning seconds of the game.

It's not really the kind of situation that's going to motivate a guy like Celebrini to stick around very long. At least until he finally gains control of his own free agent status.

The fact is, the current version of the Sharks don't have the size or hockey acumen to protect their star rookie or to beat teams like Utah. That was crystal clear. The Sharks would only must 19 shots on goal in the game, against a team that was 5 points out of a playoff position entering play.

They would register 3 shots on goal in the 2nd period while trying to preserve a 1-0 lead. They didn't of course.

Fabian Zetterlund staked the Sharks to an early 1-0 just 58 seconds into the game on a put back chance from 18 feet out. Mikael Granlund pumped a once time chance on goaltender Karel Vejmelka from the right dot, but the Utah goaltender stopped it with a blocker save. The puck kicked out to Zetterlund in the slot for a quick return that found twine for Swede's 12th goal of the season.

Both teams traded breakaway chances in the second half of the period, but neither materialized into goals.

The left post kept Matias Maccelli from scoring in the final minute of the period. Maccelli had Alexandar Georgiev down on the ice and wide open net to shoot at, but this shot sailed enough to preserve the Sharks lead.

Nick Schmaltz tied the game 5:57 into the 2nd period on a relatively routine shot from the right side. Schmaltz circled over the top of the high crease with the puck, circling toward the net at the right circle, then snapping a shot from 25 feet out. Georgiev's glove response was late as the puck squeezed between him and the right post.

Barrett Hayton tripped Zetterlund as the Sharks forward was circling back on a puck. The trip resulted in Zetterlund slamming into the boards, which drew the ire of the Sharks. San Jose did nothing on the ensuing power play, which would have been a good deterrent to careless play like Hayton's.

In the make or break 3rd period, Utah once again generated more scoring when it counted. Hayden circled out of the right corner before whipping a shot that sailed over Georgiev's left shoulder with 92 ticks left on the clock.

San Jose had one last gasp attempt after William Eklund was caught with a high stick to the face with 56 seconds remaining. Eklund nose opened up, leaking all over the ice giving the Sharks a 4 minute power play. They would only use a quarter of the penalty before the regulation timer ran out and they fell to their second consecutive loss.

Game Notes:

* Jake Walman and Nikolai Kovalenko did not travel with the team to Utah, as they both nurse injuries.

* Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic was a scratch for the second straight game, as was Nico Sturm who missed his third straight contest.

* Klim Kostin was injured in the 1st period and did not return following the first intermission.

* The Utah victory was only the second they have enjoyed on home ice since early November.

* Utah announced that they will open the upper bowl at the Delta Center for the remainder of the year and charge $10 for tickets.


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Scoring
1 2 3 T
SJ 1 0 0 1
UTA 0 1 1 2
1st period - 1, SJ, Zetterlund 12 (Granlund, Ceci), 0:58.
2nd period - 2, UTA, Schmaltz 7 (Keller, Desimone), 5:57.
3rd period - 3, UTA, Hayton 8 (Bjugstad, Maatta), 18:28.
Penalties
1st period - Lilijegren, SJ (cross checking), 4:56.
2nd period - Hayton, UTA (tripping), 7:21.
3rd period - Stenlund, UTA (high sticking - double minor), 19:04.
Goaltending
Shots Saves
SJ - Georgiev 26 24
UTA - Vejmelka 19 18
Shots On Goal
1 2 3 T
SJ 8 3 8 19
UTA 11 6 9 26
Power Play Conversion
SJ 0 of 2
UTA 0 of 1
3 Stars of the Game
Barrett Hayton
Nick Schmaltz
Karel Vejmelka
Attendance
Delta Center - 11,131
Officials
Referees: #13 Furman South, #27 Eric Furlatt. Linesmen: #53 Bevan Mills, #79 Kiel Murchison.





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