December 1st 2024.
The San Jose Sharks had a busy November, but they ended the month on a positive note with an exciting win on Saturday. It was a team effort, with four players scoring goals and goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood making an impressive 36 saves. Blackwood had a solid performance, bouncing back from a tough game earlier in the week.
The Sharks were facing off against their Pacific Division rival, the Seattle Kraken, in a home-and-home series. And they were determined to sweep the series. In the first period, Mario Ferraro got things started with a goal, and in the second period, Luke Kunin, Will Smith, and Cody Ceci all added to the scoreboard. Smith's goal, his third in three games, gave the Sharks a comfortable 4-0 lead.
Ceci's goal came just 46 seconds before Smith's, and it was a special one for him. It was his first goal in a road game since November 11, 2021, when he helped the Edmonton Oilers defeat the Boston Bruins 5-3. The Kraken fought back with goals from Jaden Schwartz and Jared McCann, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Sharks' lead.
The third period was intense, with McCann's goal cutting the Sharks' lead to just two points. But Blackwood and the rest of the team held on, securing the win and ending the month with a record of 6-6-3. October had been a tough month for the Sharks, with a record of 3-7-2. So, this win was a great way to close out the month and start fresh in December.
The Sharks had also beaten the Kraken 8-5 the night before, closing out their four-game homestand with a 2-2-0 record. Mikael Granlund and Jake Walman each had two assists in the game, and it was the team's first game of a six-game road trip. The next stop on their journey is against the Washington Capitals.
Blackwood had a rough game on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators, allowing four goals on just 11 shots. It was a rare off night for the veteran netminder, who has been consistent throughout the season. So, he was determined to bounce back in this game, and he did just that, making some crucial saves to secure the win.
Overall, Blackwood has a record of 4-8-3 this season, with a save percentage of .902. Ferraro got the Sharks on the board in the first period, taking a pass from Granlund and firing a shot that deflected off Kraken defenseman Will Borgen and into the net. It was his second goal in three games, and he was on fire.
The Sharks' defense also stepped up in this game, with four consecutive games where a defenseman scored a goal. In total, the defensemen had five points in this game, a testament to their strong performance. And it wasn't just this game; in the previous game against the Kraken, rookies Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and Ethan Cardwell had all scored, making it the first time in almost 30 years that three Sharks rookies had scored in the same game.
The Sharks were thrilled with this win, and it was a great way to end the month. They will carry this momentum into their upcoming games, hoping to continue their winning streak. As for Blackwood, he'll be looking to stay consistent and lead his team to more victories. It's shaping up to be an exciting season for the San Jose Sharks.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
