San Jose Sharks Collapse in the Third Period to Overtime Defeat to the St Louis Blues

A great first 40 minutes would be undone by a poor final period in the San Jose Sharks season opener. A result that held both sources of optimism and disappointment, it helped promise and hope but exposed the ugly heads of the issues which have plagued the organization for years. A record-breaking youngster and the defensive problem of the organization, both in this game. One thing is for sure: the San Jose Sharks will be a fun team this season.

Despite Mackenzie Blackwood being asked to keep the Sharks in the game early, the faithful in the building would get to celebrate quickly. A gorgeous pass into the middle from Macklin Celebrini hits Mathew Kessel's skate and trickles into the back of the Blues net. The rookie, the first overall pick, and the hope for the organization's future arrived in a big way. His first NHL goal 7 minutes into his career. William Eklund, who was supposed to get the pass in the slot, was bouncing with the reigning Hobey Baker winner in the celebrations.

Unfortunately, the Sharks' dubious defense would continue to haunt them. A poor turnover in the offensive zone allows the Blues to transition into a 2-on-1 defensively. Jan Rutta tries his best to break it up, but a pass from Jordan Kyrou to Pavel Buchnevich allows Buchnevich to try and move it back into the middle. It bounces off Rutta, between the arm and body of Blackwood, and into the net to tie this game up at one.

Macklin Celebrini would get another point shortly after as he picked up the puck behind the net. A quick turn allows the 18-year-old to find a passing lane to Tyler Toffoli. Toffoli will never miss that, with Hofer committed to the other post trying to protect the wraparound, and the San Jose Sharks restored their lead quickly. Toffoli's first as a Shark gives Celebrini a two-point first period.

In the second period, the powerplay extended the team's lead to teal. Another stunning passing play let Tyler Toffoli move the puck back and forth with Mikael Granlund. Granlund finds a seam pass to the back post to Fabian Zetterlund, who is looking to build on his breakout season last year. The Sharks were in complete control halfway through the second period.

San Jose would then be the beneficiary of a spooky bounce. A great save on the PK by Blackwood would allow the Sharks to drive the puck up the ice via Barclay Goodrow. Hofer blocks his shot down, but Justin Faulk chops the puck back toward the front of the net, allowing it to bounce off of Hofer and in. A goal in his return to San Jose for Goodrow, the Sharks are rolling in the home opener.

At the end of the second, the Sharks got a standing ovation. It's a minor thing, but it's worth noting that even the fans in the building who aren't privy to the same replays you'd get on television were able to appreciate the fantastic effort of the team through the first forty minutes of the season opener. It hadn't been perfect, but the fans started to see the light at the end of this tunnel.

The Blues would get one back at the beginning of the third period. San Jose couldn't clear the puck out of their zone as Nico Sturm and Matt Benning committed to one body. Radek Faksa could grab the puck and drive to the front of the net, but the puck bounced off the stick of Cody Ceci and into the net past Mackenzie Blackwood, cutting the Sharks' lead back to just two.

St Louis would get another one just after the six-minute mark. St Louis entered the offensive zone via the enormous body of Alexey Toropchenko, and the big man found a pass to the defenseman jumping into the slot, which was the veteran Ryan Suter. Suter wired it past the glove of Blackwood, and the Sharks lead was down to just a single goal—old defensive issues rearing their ugly head again.

Justin Faulk would make up for his gaff earlier in the third period's final minute. Justin Faulk walked up the wall and unleashed a wrister through a bevy of humanity in front of Mackenzie Blackwood that finds the corner of the net. After being up 4-1, the Sharks bent and broke to allow the Blues back into the game and force overtime.

Heartbreak would be finalized in overtime. Brayden Schenn would lead the Blues up the ice and fire the puck home past Mackenzie Blackwood to cap the collapse of the Sharks. There is so much excitement, but ultimately, it's just a point from a great 40 minutes in Warsofsky's debut as Sharks head coach. We can be excited and disappointed in this young group as the season begins.