Last night the San Jose Sharks opened the regular season at home with a 4-3 overtime win against the Florida Panthers. An important tone has been set following the matchup, and a better glimpse into the future of this team has been given. Here’s a breakdown of what we saw and what to look forward to:
Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith
In his official debut as captain, Macklin Celebrini very easily slid into the leadership role and was instrumental in the win with 3 assists, earning him third star of the game. First star of the game belonged to Celebrini’s partner-in-crime: Will Smith, with 3 points (2G, 1A). The two have always paired very well together, and fed off each other’s energy, but seem to have taken it to a new level. Coming together for two goals, one coming at the very end of a four-minute penalty kill, the pair seem ready to take their combined production up a notch. Perhaps living together this season plays a role in the amplification of their already strong connection.
Mason Marchment
In a truly poetic turn of events, Mason Marchment scored the Sharks’ first goal of the season early into the first period. Wearing #27 to honor his late father, Bryan, who played for the team and worked in the organization until his sudden passing in 2022, Marchment is a welcome addition to the team. Although he is ten years their senior, Marchment fits seamlessly into the Celebrini and Smith line. A crucial addition of bulk to the roster, he is physical while having fun doing it. Additionally, his willingness to shoot from literally anywhere is refreshing and often results in goals.
Ivar Stenberg
Although he did not end up on the scoresheet, the 19-year-old second overall draft pick looked comfortable. He easily fell into the flow of an NHL game, not looking out of place for a second, and not once was intimidated by the outright aggression towards him. Frequently carrying the puck to the net and using his positional awareness to create plays, it won’t be long until he does crack the scoresheet.
Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba
Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba did exactly what was expected of them last night: physically set the tone for the season and let the rest of the league know they can’t push around the Sharks anymore. Trouba, in particular, did a good job of this. Early into the game a Panther delivered a big hit on Stenberg, and Trouba was there within seconds to make him pay the price. Recording over 22 minutes of time-on-ice, Trouba was a reliable force. Nurse, however, was not. With a penchant for cross-checking opponents in the back of the head, Nurse took two bad penalties. Additionally, his positioning and awareness was repeatedly off. His performance was only redeemed by the occasional good pokecheck.
Nolan Allan
Taking over Sam Dickinson’s spot on the roster, fans saw their first official glimpse of Nolan Allan. Thanks to repeated penalty taking, fans got to see quite a bit of Allan on the penalty kill. Allan thrived on the penalty kill, looking comfortable and ready to help provide goaltender Yaroslav Askarov with the support he needed.
Luca Cagnoni
Lots of hype was surrounding 21-year-old Luca Cagnoni, and he certainly met it. With the hype came lots of criticism regarding his size, standing at just 5-foot-nine inches, doubters were concerned with his ability to stay on the puck. Cagnoni proved them wrong, able to keep up with a hard-hitting team like Florida and recording 21 minutes of time-on-ice. He was strong leading the powerplay, creating puck movement, being defensively aware and keeping the puck in the offensive zone. Considering his speed, 3-on-3 is exactly the type of situation where he thrives. It was not surprising to see him on the ice for overtime, where his speed and confidence crashing the net directly resulted in his scoring of the overtime winner.
Yaroslav Askarov
Goaltending was a big question mark for the Sharks going into the season, with last season making it nearly impossible to assess the situation. However, goaltender Yaroslav Askarov is solidifying his case as the starting goalie. The Panthers repeatedly came at him hard and crowded him, but he managed to keep calm and remain focused. Although his save percentage on the night was 88.5%, allowing 3 goals in 26 shots, his tracking was spectacular. Despite commotion in front of him, he was able to stay on top of where the puck was and development of plays.
All in all, last night was a pretty good showing of the Sharks. Although blowing a 3-0 lead is less than ideal, the team did a good job of not panicking and regaining composure. While there certainly are a lot of areas that can be worked on, primarily in the defensive sector, the team is in a great spot.
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