October 18th 2024.
The San Jose Sharks had a tough time on Thursday at the United Center as they faced off against the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to overcome a slow start and a series of penalties that landed them in the penalty box. The final score was 4-2 in favor of the Blackhawks, leaving the Sharks with a loss on their record.
The first period was particularly sluggish for the Sharks, and they found themselves trailing by two goals. Things didn't improve in the second period, as Nick Foligno of the Blackhawks scored a power play goal just 43 seconds in, extending their lead to 3-0. The Sharks did manage to score twice throughout the game, but they were unable to catch up to the Blackhawks' lead. Despite a goal from Fabian Zetterlund in the third period, the Sharks were unable to close the gap, and the game ended with a 4-2 score.
Unfortunately, this loss also meant that Ryan Warsofsky, the Sharks' head coach, was still searching for his first win in the NHL. On the opposing team, Connor Bedard, who was selected first overall by the Blackhawks in 2023, had a strong game with two assists. This brought his total points for the season up to seven in just five games. The Sharks' number one draft pick, Macklin Celebrini, was unable to play due to a lower-body injury, which landed him on the injured reserve list for the third consecutive game.
Despite the loss, there were a few bright moments for the Sharks. Mikael Granlund and William Eklund both had assists on the two Sharks goals, one of which was Tyler Toffoli's third goal of the season. This goal came in the second period and cut the Blackhawks' lead to 3-1. However, the Blackhawks were able to widen the gap once again with a goal from Jason Dickinson in the third period. The Sharks' goalie, Vitek Vanecek, had a tough night, allowing three goals on 23 shots in the first two periods. On the other side, Petr Mrazek of the Blackhawks had a strong performance, saving 20 shots in the first game of the season between these two teams.
The Sharks' struggles continued in this game, as they were short-handed a season-high of seven times, leading to a power play goal for the Blackhawks. This was in stark contrast to their previous three games, where they had successfully killed off 11 penalties. Despite a better showing in the third period, the Sharks were unable to turn things around and secure a win.
Their road trip will come to an end on Friday night as they face the Winnipeg Jets. The Sharks will be hoping to turn their luck around and end the month of October on a high note. Their last win in the month of October was back in 2022, leaving them with an 0-11-3 record in October games since then. The Sharks will have to regroup and come back stronger in their next game if they want to end this streak.
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