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.