December 8th 2024.
The San Jose Sharks came into this six-game road trip with a lot of momentum, but it seems like a distant memory now. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned for them in their latest game against the Florida Panthers. After a turnover in their own zone, they allowed a goal from Matthew Tkachuk just 23 seconds into the first period. From then on, they struggled to create any quality scoring chances and ended up losing 3-1 at the Amerant Bank Arena.
It was a tough game for the Sharks, especially against the defending Stanley Cup champions. They only managed to get 16 shots on goal in the first two periods and their power play was only successful once out of seven attempts. It was thanks to Tyler Toffoli's late power-play goal that they avoided being shut out for the second time this season. But the real hero of the game was Panthers goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, who made a staggering 50 saves and gave the Sharks a chance to bounce back after their 8-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.
Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky couldn't help but praise Blackwood, saying it was one of the best goalie performances he had ever seen. Toffoli also commended the goalie, saying he had been amazing all season and kept them in many games. He added that without Blackwood's outstanding performance, the score could have been much worse for the Sharks.
Despite Blackwood's heroics, the gap between the Sharks and the top teams in the NHL remains wide. This was evident in their game against the Panthers, who have now beaten the Sharks 11 times in a row since 2017. Warsofsky acknowledged the Panthers' talent and said they have the respect of the entire league. He also mentioned that the Sharks sometimes play with fear and lose their swagger, which is something they need to work on.
It's no secret that the Sharks are in a rebuilding phase, and their younger players are still learning what it takes to win consistently. On the other hand, teams like the Lightning and Panthers, who have won three of the last five Stanley Cups, have all the pieces to make deep playoff runs. Sharks center Nico Sturm admitted that the Panthers were the fastest team they had faced so far and were relentless regardless of who they were playing.
The Sharks will now finish their road trip with games against the Carolina Hurricanes and the St. Louis Blues, two tough opponents. They started the trip with wins against the Seattle Kraken and the Washington Capitals, but things haven't gone as smoothly since then. Against the Panthers, they dug themselves into a hole early in the game, and even though they tried to fight back, it wasn't enough.
The Sharks would like to emulate the Panthers in many ways, as they are a competitive, big, and heavy team that never quits. Warsofsky praised the Panthers' coach, Paul, for his job and said that he steered the boat while the players drove it, which is what it takes to win a Stanley Cup.
Unfortunately, the Sharks were without rookie forward Will Smith in their latest game due to an upper-body injury he sustained against the Lightning. He is considered day-to-day, and in his absence, rookie Ethan Cardwell drew back into the lineup and played on a line with Mikael Granlund and Klim Kostin. Warsofsky also made a change on defense, replacing Jack Thompson with Henry Thrun.
As for Vlasic, he is nearing a return from an upper-body injury that has kept him out since training camp. This means the Sharks might have to make a roster decision soon regarding Thompson, as he remains waivers exempt. Warsofsky mentioned that they are getting closer to having Vlasic back in the lineup and will make a decision once the weekend is over.
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