Notes #5: Bruins Jump Sharks Early 4-3

Period One

Marchand goal: San Jose Sharks get a taste of their own medicine, as Bruins strike quick off forecheck. Sharks have been prolific off forecheck this year. That chemistry — on Boston dump-in, Pastrnak is first along the wall, but he lets it go to Bergeron. Almost a forecheck give and go — Bergeron gives it right back to Pastrnak, who’s now behind the net. Back to Bergeron, to Marchand, who slips free of coverage.

Forbort goal: Probably the first truly bad goal given up by Hill this year. Sharks will hope first of not many.

Wow, how did Barabanov miss that?

Barabanov miss: They're giving Carlo credit for the block, but I'm not seeing that pic.twitter.com/MaEZN1fGpc

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 24, 2021

Seven left: Nice move by Karlsson at blueline, creates space for himself up high. Nifty. Sharks just cranking pucks on net on PP.

Sharks down, but game doesn’t feel quite out of reach yet. Both have benefited from poor goaltending: Forbort, Weatherby goals. Both power plays have looked potent: Barabanov missed a gimme, Pastrnak doesn’t miss. Can San Jose get going five-on-five?

Minute left: Weatherby wins a puck battle behind Ullmark. My observation is that’s been a consistent thing for him this year.

Period Two

Four left: That Perfection Line just not letting Sharks exit.

Meier keeps going on that forecheck. San Jose Sharks grind out a chance.

DeBrusk gets free, gets a lucky bounce, puck drops in front of him. But Hill needs to be better too. Reimer in.

Gadjovich’s north-south speed a little better than expected. Hasn’t been great with puck so far, but I’ll give him a pass, first game in a couple weeks and all.

Pretty-looking pass by Dahlen to Couture in slot eight in. Three down, young players still have a lot to play for.

Ten left: Good battle by Labanc near corner, on his knees, to win the puck back to point. Good to see Sharks still grinding despite the hole they’re in.

Nine in: Dahlen’s got to make that OZ pass. Perfection Line turns it around quickly. But Dahlen had done a nice job helping to weave puck into OZ, chance incoming, but a botched backhand pass, under no pressure, kills momentum.

Five left: Imprecise Sharks moving pucks, another tic-tac-Perfection Line chance. It’s a privilege to get to watch them play together.

Two left: Middleton steps up on PK, kills play at center ice. The San Jose Sharks keep playing hard, that’s a PK where they get some good chances.

#SJSharks having trouble generating shots in the slot, #NHLBruins have a 10-4 advantage through two periods per @SPORTLOGiQ

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 24, 2021

Period Three

Opening shift: That’s small stuff that is concerning about Dahlen. He dumps it in, then just shivered off on arguable interference by B’s d-man, disturbs his puck pursuit. Ideally, of course, you want someone who can chug through the pick and get the puck.

Ten left: Another execution thing. Simek does nice job killing Studnicka play. But then, Sharks can’t execute a simple exit pass. Turnover. Same thing happens next shift as Ferraro tries to shovel it out. Bruins deserve credit too. But Sharks aren’t making the “next play” tonight.

Hertl goal: Sharks on the forecheck finally. That’s their bread and butter this year.

That’s working together: Karlsson sets a pick for Burns to get puck and fire. That’s what Sharks fans were dreaming of three years ago.