The futile season debuts continued for the
Sharks on Saturday. San Jose was shutout 3-0 by a Pittsburgh Penguins lineup
that, on paper, is not expected to do much this season. The Penguins leaned on
Tristan Jarry, who made 31 saves for the shutout. San Jose has now gone a 4th
straight season losing their first 5 games to start the year.
This one
wasn't a blowout, but it was another case of San Jose playing a one period game
where they outplayed their opponent. The game consists of three regulation
periods, so one-period performances don't get the job done at the NHL level.
Winning isn't easy in the NHL, but dropping the first 5 games of the
season four consecutive seasons is an accomplishment. The rebuild, it would
seem, is very much in the painful period.
Like their dismal
performance in Utah on Friday, they started slow and had to kick thing into
gear. They couldn't lean on the tired legs excuse because Pittsburgh played on
Friday as well.
A wide open first 10 minutes of the game had the ice
tilted toward the Sharks goal and netminder Alex Nedeljkovic. The Penguins had
multiple looks inside 20 feet that Nedeljkovic was required to address, but he
was able to handle the Pittsburgh push.
Philipp Kurashav had a point
blank chance from outside the at the 8 minute mark, but Penguins goaltender
Tristan Jarry denied the new Shark. Jeff Skinner had his own chance with 4
minutes remaining in the opening period after he found himself facing the
Penguins net in the low slot. Jarry would deny that as well.
Pittsburgh finished the opening period with 18 shots on goal, to the Sharks 11.
Both Nedeljkovic and Jarry were on their toes to keep the game scoreless.
Rookie Michael Misa had the best chance of his young career 5 minutes
into the 2nd period when he snapped a chance from the bottom of the left circle
that just missed finding the back of the net. Only a flailing arm by Jarry kept
the top shelf attempt out of the Penguins net.
Sidney Crosby finally
broke the 0-0 tie at 7:35, when he got a stick blade on a Kris Letang shot from
the right side. Crosby was lurking around the bottom of the right circle when
Letang's shot and was covered by defenseman Vincent Iorio, but he was able to
clip the knee high puck to score against his former teammate in Nedeljkovic.
Macklin Celebrini missed on a golden opportunity on the ensuing shift
when a sure tap in skipped over his stick as he sat parked unattended on the
left post.
Harrison Brunicke just missed doubling the Lens lead at the
8 minute mark when his shot attempt rang off the left post.
William Eklund missed on a breakaway chance 3
minutes into the 3rd period, when his shot attempt sailed wide of the net.
The Sharks got caught watching the puck 7 minutes in when Justin
Brazeau gathered an Evgeni Malkin pass on the left side before the Penguins
forward sent a pass through the slot to Anthony Mantha on the right side.
Mantha easily deposited the puck into the Sharks net as Nedeljkovic was caught
on the left side of the crease.
The first penalty of the game was
called at 12:34 of the period when Bryan Rust was whistled for slashing. The
Sharks responded by doing nothing with the opportunity, generating no shots on
the 2-minute advantage.
Crosby was called for hooking with 3:35 left
in regulation. Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky used his timeout 25 seconds
into the advantage to pull Nedeljkovic for the extra attacker.
The
Sharks have a hard enough time keeping the puck out of their net when it's
manned by a goaltender, so the empty net situation simply allowed Evgeni Malkin
to pad his stats. The veteran forward potted the empty net goal to cap the
scoring and send the sellout crowd home with yet another lose to ponder.
Game Notes: * Sidney Crosby extended a 9-game point
scoring streak against the Sharks with his 2nd period goal.
*
Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic surrendered a pair of goals, which was lowest
goals-against count of the season for a Sharks netminder. Nedeljkovic lowered
his goals against average to 3.70 on the season.
* For the first time
this season, the Sharks generated more shot attempts, shots on goal and faceoff
wins than an opponent.
* Michael Misa played for only the second time
this season, but his level of play was markedly better than his NHL debut. The
rookie's vision was impressive as he setup several chances with crisp passing.
He missed on a pair of quality scoring chances in the game.
* The
shutout was Tristan Jarry's 22nd career goose egg.
