San Jose Sharks Come Up Short in the Windy City in 4-2 Loss to the Chicago Blackhawks
A poor first 30 minutes of this game cost the San Jose Sharks a chance at two points. A Chicago team that was there to be beaten comes out in the first period ready to play, but the Sharks are still asleep. They built a multiple-goal lead, and the Sharks could never cut into it enough to trouble the Blackhawks—a poor start to this back-to-back set, with a trip to Winnipeg coming up.
San Jose would find itself behind the game early. During 4-on-4 hockey, Brodie would find a pass for Taylor Hall, who could come in on Vitek Vanecek. In the battle of the former New Jersey Devils, Hall wins out at the near post, and the Sharks fall behind. They could not live with the speed of the Blackhawks forward, and it cost the Sharks early at the United Center. It's the year's first goal for the 32-year-old former league MVP.
Chicago would double its lead on the powerplay via some pretty passing. Teuvo Teravainen would find a passing lane into the slot to Tyler Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi broke away from his man in the slot to deflect it home, and Bertuzzi's first goal as a Chicago Blackhawk is also their first powerplay goal conceded this season. San Jose didn't look good in the first period here, but they survived the rest of the period.
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The Blackhawks made it 3-0 early in the second period. Another gorgeous passing play on the powerplay left Nick Foligno alone in the slot, and Connor Bedard could find the new Blackhawks captain to deflect the puck home. Less than 60 seconds into the period, the Sharks' hole got deeper with their worst season game so far. It was a disappointing effort from the team in teal.
San Jose would break the egg on the board with less than two minutes to go in the second period. William Eklund does so well to get his skates moving and eventually get the puck while driving to the icing line. He finds a passing lane out in front of Tyler Toffoli, and the big free-agent signing scores his third in four games to cut the lead to just two.
Chicago would restore its three-goal lead in the third period. A simple pick in deep would see Cody Ceci get beaten to the puck by Joey Anderson. Anderson finds Jason Dickinson out in front, who had a sweet move to beat Vitek Vanecek, who had been left out to dry tonight. It's 4-1 and a long way back for the Sharks.
San Jose didn't kneel down, though. Just moments after the Hawks make it 4-1, Mikael Granlund gets the puck along the half boards and fires it through the slot. Fabian Zetterlund tries to shut his legs to stop the puck from rolling into the corner and inadvertently knocks it off his thigh and between the legs of Petr Mrazek to cut the lead back to just two goals.
San Jose would pull the netminder late to try to get something going offensively, but they couldn't solve Mrazek again. It ends 4-2 to Chicago, and the Sharks drop to 0-2-2 on the season. It doesn't get any easier as the Sharks go up to San Jose tomorrow night to take on one of the league's unbeaten teams. Another painful night feels in store for this team in that one.