San Jose dropped a disappointing game at home to the Ottawa Senators. In infuriating circumstances, the San Jose Sharks outshot the Senators 39-11 in one of the most dominant displays they've had amid this rebuild, but the hockey gods didn't play nicely. It's not even a loss you can blame on Mackenzie Blackwood. He was helpless for all four goals, as just four major defensive breakdowns cost the Sharks this game, and they lost one they probably should not have.
Adam Gaudette tucked home the puck from the front of the net as Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk combined to set up their linemate on the doorstep. It's another defensive breakdown, and in so close to Blackwood, there wasn't much time to react, and he was unable to bail the team out. San Jose needs to figure out its defensive issues to stop chances like this from occurring in the future.
It got worse when the Sharks penalty killers were unable to deny a zone entry. Former Sharks draft pick Josh Norris made Team Teal pay as he got a pass across the slot from Drake Batherson. He tapped it home, but Blackwood again couldn't do anything. San Jose's defenders once again left their netminder out to dry, and he could not be the superhuman netminder he has been so many times this season for the Sharks.
San Jose didn't roll over. Klim Kostin and Will Smith combined to set up Mario Ferraro, who achieved his first goal in the season in the middle of the second period. Ferraro has struggled to get going this season, so this goal could do a world of good for his confidence because he is a good defenseman. Smith also needed the points just to continue building his confidence.
Tyler Kleven rifled home a point shot before the end of the second period to restore the Senators multiple-goal lead. It's his first in the NHL because it had to be, and you just cannot expect a save from your netminder there. You can hope for one, but it's not a save he has to make at the NHL level. There needed to be pressure at the point of taking away the shooting lane, but that never happened, and the Canadian team led again.
San Jose would get one back early in the third period via the star center. Jake Walman and William Eklund combine to set up a tap-in for Macklin Celebrini as we got a flash of the Eklund-Celebrini connection that we hope will bring this franchise back to the top of the standings in a few years. The Sharks were within touching distance on the scoreboard.
Will Smith then netted his third goal of the season in the powerplay with eight minutes to go to restore life to this Sharks roster. Timothy Liljegren and Fabian Zetterlund combined to set up the 2023 fourth overall pick, and the Sharks fought back to level terms once again. It's incredible that this team never dies despite knowing they'll probably not be among the postseason teams.
Ottawa got the backbreaker by recreating their first goal. There's nothing Blackwood can do, Tkachuk to Stutzle to Gaudette in front. It's 4-3 Ottawa, and the Sharks couldn't comeback from that one. They lose at home despite blasting the Senators off the ice at the SAP Center. San Jose will go into this back-to-back with the Seattle Kraken looking for a better result than this.