GDT: Game 11: Kings @ Sharks 7pm ESPN / SN1

[coooldude]

Great first period, awful second period, great start to the third and then we took our foot off the gas.

Smith, I think, really struggles to get into the flow when his shifts are so chopped up. He had one great shift, a lot of pretty rough ones, but second period as an example -- puck freeze -> Warso matches lines on the next faceoff and rarely puts him out there, penalty --> shift over, smith stapled to the bench for 2 minutes and never seems to get the shift right after the kill is over, and second PP --> usually 45s or less and then the shift is over and he's waiting for us to cycle through the other 3 lines. Lastly, he was once again stapled to the bench in the last 5 minutes -- I don't think Warso should necessarily be shortening the bench and blending the lines like that. Hurt us vs. STL, didn't hurt us today but I personally would prefer him to just roll the lines as they are, given our specific line profile. Felt like 4th line minutes tonight for the kid.

As others have noted -- Cardwell looked like a pretty much drop-in replacement for Dellandrea, maybe even a little better. The makings of a perfect energy line guy -- annoying, plays extremely hard, and just enough skill to create danger plays. Very promising start to his NHL career.

Vanacek to me looked pretty rough tonight. He had some saves of course, and I'm not usually one to blame the goalie, but the rebounds are a little out of hand and he totally froze on the breakaway where he could have poked or been more aggressive to freeze puck -- still traumatized from his ESPN Bottom 10 highlight vs. Vegas.

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

Caldwell looked really good, I was very impressed.

They all played way looser generally and corrected after a bad 2nd to come out for a pretty good 3rd. We're winning on the strength of basically Eklund, Granlund, Zetterlund, Toffoli and Walman, but obviously the hustle of guys like Goodrow, Wennberg, etc., helps a lot.

One thing that drives me absolutely crazy is when the defensemen (the root of all our problems, really) panic toss the puck up the wall to the other team's waiting D. That's part of the reason we got hemmed in a few times in the 2nd period -- no one to take the puck and skate it out, or just like, pause a BEAT to find the good pass.

Other than that, they did it and it didn't seem like it took every bit of their ability (like every win last season) which bodes well.

God, I want Celebrini back.

Re: the defense
A lot of the second period we were on the PK, so Ferraro, Rutta were out there alot and halfway through the second Rutta left the bench so Ferraro, Benning were getting double-shifted to oblivion. Coach didn't let play Thompson so sometimes you cannot fault the d-men who were out there because they were probably dead-tired (physical tiredness affects decision-making too). This is where we need the forwards to get on the walls and really help out.

Re: Celebrini
He was in the stands. It was great seeing him, it made me happy he's alive lol

 

[Requin]

yep, it's a nightmare.

Still, this is a FAR better team than last year.

Also, considering Caldwell was out in the last 4 mins of the game, I think he's earned himself a few games...

Totally agree.

Last year they looked hopeless and dead inside. This year they just look inexperienced and lacking in talent on defense.

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

There's no reason Luca shouldn't be getting a look with the big club by now.

I think Grier is waiting on Pickles to come back to be honest.

 

[dmcccdmn]

 

[hohosaregood]

i'm ready to steal cardwell from the cuda forever

 

[TheBigDrunkPanda]

I think Grier is waiting on Pickles to come back to be honest.

Maybe he’s going to injury retire with Couture

 

[Requin]

Vanacek to me looked pretty rough tonight. He had some saves of course, and I'm not usually one to blame the goalie, but the rebounds are a little out of hand and he totally froze on the breakaway where he could have poked or been more aggressive to freeze puck -- still traumatized from his ESPN Bottom 10 highlight vs. Vegas.

Dude the collective simultaneous facepalm from us Sharks fans in the crowd when this happened... you could basically hear a couple hundred hands hitting foreheads.

Up until then he had actually been fairly good, too.

 

[TheBeard]

I think Grier is waiting on Pickles to come back to be honest.

Why? It's still gonna take him some time to get into game shape. It's not like he's EK65 out there. I remember him getting pinned in his own zone more than pretty much any other d-man save Burroughs.

 

[Jargon]

Re: the defense
A lot of the second period we were on the PK, so Ferraro, Rutta were out there alot and halfway through the second Rutta left the bench so Ferraro, Benning were getting double-shifted to oblivion. Coach didn't let play Thompson so sometimes you cannot fault the d-men who were out there because they were probably dead-tired (physical tiredness affects decision-making too). This is where we need the forwards to get on the walls and really help out.

Re: Celebrini
He was in the stands. It was great seeing him, it made me happy he's alive lol

Re: the defense
A lot of the second period we were on the PK, so Ferraro, Rutta were out there alot and halfway through the second Rutta left the bench so Ferraro, Benning were getting double-shifted to oblivion. Coach didn't let play Thompson so sometimes you cannot fault the d-men who were out there because they were probably dead-tired (physical tiredness affects decision-making too). This is where we need the forwards to get on the walls and really help out.

Re: Celebrini
He was in the stands. It was great seeing him, it made me happy he's alive lol

Yeah, that’s a fair point. And to give them credit, part of the reason we HAVE been better this year about breaking out of our zone. It’s still clear that we need a couple of actual puck movers and I think things will look even better.

 

[CanadienShark]

We'll never lose again.

 

[drunksage]

SNOG announcement​

Got quite a few SNOGs tonight, even after going through the goalscorers tiebreaker. Nice!

Sharks 4 (Gecko / Smitty / Zets / Granny)
LA 2 (Moore / Byfield)

SNOG:

4-2 Sharks.

Eklund, Caldwell, Zetterlund and Granlund.

Byfield and Foegele.

Sharks 4 (Smith, Cardwell, Toffoli, Zetterlund)
Kings 2

Congrats @MackAttack71 on your first career SNOG! Also, congrats to @bluefunnel and @sharks_dynasty each on your first SNOG of the season.

#	Date / Opponent​	SNOG Winner(s)​	Result​
1	Oct. 10 vs Blues	none	Blues 5-4 OT
2	Oct. 12 vs Ducks	none	Ducks 2-0
3	Oct. 15 at Stars	weastern bias	Stars 3-2 SO
4	Oct. 17 at Blackhawks	weastern bias	Blackhawks 4-2
5	Oct. 18 at Jets	none	Jets 8-3
6	Oct. 20 vs Avalanche	none	Avalanche 4-1
7	Oct. 22 at Ducks	Timo Time	Ducks 3-1
8	Oct. 24 at Kings	Friday	Kings 3-2
9	Oct. 26 at VGK	none	VGK 7-3
10	Oct. 28 at Utah	none	Sharks 5-4 OT
11	Oct. 29 vs Kings	MackAttack71, bluefunnel, sharks_dynasty	Sharks 4-2

Rank	2024-25 SNOG standings​	# of SNOGs
1.	weastern bias	2
T-2.	bluefunnel, Friday, MackAttack71, sharks_dynasty, Timo Time	1

 

[TheBeard]

We'll never lose again.

Only 5 points out of a wild card spot.

 

[weastern bias]

We got Jake Walman as a cap dump, lol

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Cardwell did well on the 4th line. I hope it earns him another game but he needs to do more to stay there.

 

[Jargon]

We got Jake Walman as a cap dump, lol

yeah but he had some turnovers tonight

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

Yeah, that’s a fair point. And to give them credit, part of the reason we HAVE been better this year about breaking out of our zone. It’s still clear that we need a couple of actual puck movers and I think things will look even better.

Well, it wouldn't be outlandish to hope for a Cagnoni callup. He's ready. I'm not concerned about his size either, he can handle size and he plays at Caldwell speed so you'll love him.

 

[weastern bias]

yeah but he had some turnovers tonight

You're right, he's bad, actually

 

[karltonian]

Great first period, awful second period, great start to the third and then we took our foot off the gas.
View attachment 923759

Smith, I think, really struggles to get into the flow when his shifts are so chopped up. He had one great shift, a lot of pretty rough ones, but second period as an example -- puck freeze -> Warso matches lines on the next faceoff and rarely puts him out there, penalty --> shift over, smith stapled to the bench for 2 minutes and never seems to get the shift right after the kill is over, and second PP --> usually 45s or less and then the shift is over and he's waiting for us to cycle through the other 3 lines. Lastly, he was once again stapled to the bench in the last 5 minutes -- I don't think Warso should necessarily be shortening the bench and blending the lines like that. Hurt us vs. STL, didn't hurt us today but I personally would prefer him to just roll the lines as they are, given our specific line profile. Felt like 4th line minutes tonight for the kid.

Agreed, I tried to see when he was being deployed and it is so damn inconsistent how can he possibly start rolling? He is not being set up to succeed, he is not being "got going" by putting him with players doing well, he is effectively being sabotaged.

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

You're right, he's bad, actually

Oh there you are SNOGstradamus.

 

[OrrNumber4]

All those who talk shit about Mario will completely ignore how huge that block was.

Everyone already knows this about him. He's the classic defenseman who looks good making big defensive plays...because he's always stuck in the d-zone.

Great first period, awful second period, great start to the third and then we took our foot off the gas.
View attachment 923759

Smith, I think, really struggles to get into the flow when his shifts are so chopped up. He had one great shift, a lot of pretty rough ones, but second period as an example -- puck freeze -> Warso matches lines on the next faceoff and rarely puts him out there, penalty --> shift over, smith stapled to the bench for 2 minutes and never seems to get the shift right after the kill is over, and second PP --> usually 45s or less and then the shift is over and he's waiting for us to cycle through the other 3 lines. Lastly, he was once again stapled to the bench in the last 5 minutes -- I don't think Warso should necessarily be shortening the bench and blending the lines like that. Hurt us vs. STL, didn't hurt us today but I personally would prefer him to just roll the lines as they are, given our specific line profile. Felt like 4th line minutes tonight for the kid.

You've churlishly blocked me, but anyway...this is fair that Smith has had to deal with some adversity. But so has every Sharks's prospect ever! Eklund in his first year had to deal with it. Hertl, Couture, Pavelski, Goodrow, etc. all had to deal with being yanked around, stapled to the bench, given subpar linemates, etc.

Fat Balloon is probably the only prospect I can remember who was over-catered too. Maybe Matt Carle. Celebrini might be the next, but I bet he'll earn it.

Vanacek to me looked pretty rough tonight. He had some saves of course, and I'm not usually one to blame the goalie, but the rebounds are a little out of hand and he totally froze on the breakaway where he could have poked or been more aggressive to freeze puck -- still traumatized from his ESPN Bottom 10 highlight vs. Vegas.

Does it mean anything that both goaltenders have issues with rebounds? Or is it just that the Sharks have two not-great goalies...

I don't think any big stops from Vanecek in this game...a ho-hum game.

 

[weastern bias]

Oh there you are SNOGstradamus.

I can't even SNOG anymore, the Sharks are too busy being a bunch of f***ing WINNERS BABY!

 

[BaileyMacTavish]

Great game!

Thought SMith was okay. Again. No points. At this point what do we do with him?

 

[Pavelski2112]

There's no reason Luca shouldn't be getting a look with the big club by now.

As a fellow short Italian, I agree

 

[The Nemesis]

You know what tonight means:

@Requin isn't allowed to leave as long as the streak continues.