The Sharks lacked life in their defeat last night against the Vegas Golden Knights, falling 2-1 in regulation and registering just 16 shots on goal, but there are still positive takeaways from the game. I will share my key takeaways from last night.
Askarov shines in loss
Despite losing, the Sharks should be feeling good about their goaltending at the NHL level right now. Askarov dazzled in a 27-save effort, letting in just two goals. This comes on the heels of a Nedeljkovic shutout in their preseason opener. The Sharks' goaltending struggled mightily last season, even including the poor team defense in front of them. The Sharks are hoping Askarov can give them stability in net, and if he can carry his play tonight into the season, he could do just that. He looked much calmer than he did last season, but still possesses his incredible athleticism that makes him such a special prospect at the position.
Dickinson and Misa are on track to make the team
Both Dickinson and Misa had relatively quiet games, with moments here and there, but overall, both look the part of an NHL player. Dickinson has been one of the Sharks' most consistent defenders, and his ability offensively adds an element they don’t have on the backend. He is making as strong a case as you could hope for through the first two games. As for Misa, he has shown flashes of offense, but the main thing that impresses me is his IQ and detail defensively. The Sharks seem set to use him down the middle to start the season, and he may just be able to do that. Very impressive for an 18-year-old, even if he is not Celebrini.
Cardwell makes a strong bid for a roster spot, Musty struggles
I mentioned Cardwell when talking about prospects who needed to make an impact sooner rather than later, and he did that here. He had three great scoring chances, even if he didn't convert any of them; he was also effective on the forecheck and disruptive on the ice, something he has been known for in the past. It may not be enough to crack the roster given the amount of bodies in camp, but he could be one of the top call-up options early in the season. As for Musty, after a strong string of games to start camp, he had a rough one here, but he still showed positive signs with his pace and details despite his struggles with the puck tonight, and he will likely be among the top call-ups in the AHL to start the season.
Eklund looked stronger for the Sharks
On paper, Eklund was the best player for the Sharks today with no Smith, Celebrini, or Toffoli in the lineup, and he delivered. Most of the Sharks' scoring chances were impacted by the young Swede, and Eklund was noticeable on both ends whenever he was on the ice. Eklund has been one of the Sharks' top two-way players, and hopefully, he has found another level both offensively and defensively this season.
The Sharks will be back in action on Monday when they take on the Ducks in pre-season action. It will be interesting to see if Celebrini makes his debut then. Celebrini has been skating at practice since returning from illness, but has yet to take the ice for a preseason game this year.