GDT: Game 31 4pm Hurricanes. Hi, Burnzie

[karltonian]

the refs missed 3-4 minors for us in this game, i'm glad i don't have to care but that really sucks.

 

[Juxtaposer]

It's just bonkers to me that this kid is 18, playing 20 minutes a night, and struggling because the grown-ass adults he plays with can't keep up

You dare besmirch the name of Luke Kunin??

 

[Star Platinum]

worth it

It was. I was so pissed off watching the Sharks passively sit around hoping that the other team would just magically give them the puck without pressuring the puck carrier. Somebody needed to put somebody on their ass and finally he did. I don't even give a shit about the penalty. I was just happy to see someone not play like a p***y.

 

[Star Platinum]

Excellent tank loss, kept it competitive for most of the game and Macklin gets a point. Lund line was pathetic tonight completely invisible no idea why they kept them together and the power play once again was not dangerous at all.

The adjective you are looking for is "embarrassing."

Defense and goaltending was solid. Offense was putrid including the savior

The defense was a goddamn embarrassment that whole third period. The expletives were flying from my easy chair.

 

[NWSharkie]

You dare besmirch the name of Luke Kunin??

I wouldn't dream of insulting our greatest offensive weapon

 

[Hangemhigh]

thats on cellebrini, give it to your goalie for the cover up

Macklin is on board the tank now.

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

How did Kovalenko look?

 

[RussianShark]

How did Kovalenko look?

He had 3 hits in the first period, then barely any shifts in the 2nd and 3rd. I couldn’t watch though, just monitoring the play-by-play.

 

[Star Platinum]

How did Kovalenko look?

Inconsequential for this game. Not a lot of ice time. First day with no prep, so not a fair evaluation.

 

[Shark Finn]

It's just bonkers to me that this kid is 18, playing 20 minutes a night, and struggling because the grown-ass adults he plays with can't keep up

This and we have a 18 year old kid who opposing teams already need to try and close down.

Besides that - a good, honest loss.

 

[Star Platinum]

I'm gonna say something controversial and probably unpopular.

I don't like Toffoli

Given that Warsofsky buried him on the third line for a while for no apparent reason, he may agree with you.

Toffoli is a limited player. Slow undeceptive skater with very little puck carrying utility. Not anything special as a passer. In order to get the max value from him, he needs to play with either Celebrini, Granlund, or Smith. He knows the right spots to go to, but other than the breakaway steal goal he had earlier this year, the only time he's gonna score is if someone passes him the puck when he's in a good spot or off a rebound. He should probably spend more time parked in front of the net, to be honest.

Honestly, I think Warsofsky has been a disgrace using him this year, but then his forward combinations have been my least favorite thing about him as a coach so far. But some of that has also been injury issues that have taken what little skill we have in the forward department off the ice.

 

[gaucholoco3]

Given that Warsofsky buried him on the third line for a while for no apparent reason, he may agree with you.

Toffoli is a limited player. Slow undeceptive skater with very little puck carrying utility. Not anything special as a passer. In order to get the max value from him, he needs to play with either Celebrini, Granlund, or Smith. He knows the right spots to go to, but other than the breakaway steal goal he had earlier this year, the only time he's gonna score is if someone passes him the puck when he's in a good spot or off a rebound. He should probably spend more time parked in front of the net, to be honest.

Honestly, I think Warsofsky has been a disgrace using him this year, but then his forward combinations have been my least favorite thing about him as a coach so far. But some of that has also been injury issues that have taken what little skill we have in the forward department off the ice.

Toffoli played well with Wenberg and Goodrow. Wenberg is a pass first C and a good fit with him. I actually think Toffoli could be good with Smith when he comes back to C but they need a strong F1 to complement those 2.

 

[Star Platinum]

Toffoli played well with Wenberg and Goodrow. Wenberg is a pass first C and a good fit with him. I actually think Toffoli could be good with Smith when he comes back to C but they need a strong F1 to complement those 2.

I would love for him to play with Smith, but they've resisted that all year. Since I don't see Smith going back to C in the immediate future, the best they can probably do is put Granlund, Smith, and Toffoli together on a line and put Celebrini with Eklund, and Zetterlund.

Toffoli is also hurt by how disgusting our power play is.

 

[timorous me]

How did Kovalenko look?

Like a guy who just arrived the afternoon of the game and got thrown in there.

I am hopeful that the offensive instincts some people say he possesses are indeed there; if he can be an additional top nine wing option instead of Goodrow and maybe Kostin, that would really help (even if he's not great), especially if he's someone who's more likely to be able to keep up with our rookies.

 

[gaucholoco3]

I would love for him to play with Smith, but they've resisted that all year. Since I don't see Smith going back to C in the immediate future, the best they can probably do is put Granlund, Smith, and Toffoli together on a line and put Celebrini with Eklund, and Zetterlund.

Toffoli is also hurt by how disgusting our power play is.

The problem with Granlund - Smith - Toffoli is that line does not have enough puck retrieval.

I do think Toffoli is too slow to play with Celebrini and should never be paired with him.

 

[Jargon]

I thought the Sharks actually played okay - especially in the 2nd where they really worked hard and got some chances. The fact is, this team is not close to competing with the last 3 teams so it’s going to make every player look worse and less competitive. Macklin looked good in moments and like he was forcing plays — but again, when you’re not as good as the other team, you’re going to do that. I was honestly impressed that they were even competitive.

I suspect that once they play a weaker opponent they’re going to look far better after coming through this gauntlet, just because they have to play at basically their very best to even compete.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

I thought the Sharks actually played okay - especially in the 2nd where they really worked hard and got some chances. The fact is, this team is not close to competing with the last 3 teams so it’s going to make every player look worse and less competitive. Macklin looked good in moments and like he was forcing plays — but again, when you’re not as good as the other team, you’re going to do that. I was honestly impressed that they were even competitive.

I suspect that once they play a weaker opponent they’re going to look far better after coming through this gauntlet, just because they have to play at basically their very best to even compete.

They certainly looked better than what they showed against Tampa and Florida. I'd honestly consider sitting Macklin for tomorrow's game against the Blues. It's been a long road trip and he's played well but that's not a game he needs to play in. Better to have him fresher for the homestand when Winnipeg and Colorado come into town. Utah will be more this team's speed but it ramps up quickly after that.

 

[mogambomoroo]

I thought the Sharks actually played okay - especially in the 2nd where they really worked hard and got some chances. The fact is, this team is not close to competing with the last 3 teams so it’s going to make every player look worse and less competitive. Macklin looked good in moments and like he was forcing plays — but again, when you’re not as good as the other team, you’re going to do that. I was honestly impressed that they were even competitive.

I suspect that once they play a weaker opponent they’re going to look far better after coming through this gauntlet, just because they have to play at basically their very best to even compete.

I think they will play more confident for next two games (Utah/St.Louis) but we'll see what Vanecek/Georgiev can bring. I think there will be couple of high scoring games coming up.

 

[Jargon]

They certainly looked better than what they showed against Tampa and Florida. I'd honestly consider sitting Macklin for tomorrow's game against the Blues. It's been a long road trip and he's played well but that's not a game he needs to play in. Better to have him fresher for the homestand when Winnipeg and Colorado come into town. Utah will be more this team's speed but it ramps up quickly after that.

Yeah, I don't think it would hurt him to sit and watch the game for a minute. I'm not sure they'll do that as having both him and Smith out is... rough, but we'll see.

I definitely miss Smith in the lineup. He has a LONG way to go, but his elite skill pops periodically and we've got very few guys on the roster who can do what he can do.

 

[tahoesharksfan]

Vanacek looked a lot better than I was expecting. Not great but not the problem.
I'm assuming we're getting Georgie on Thursday?!

On to the next one...

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Yeah, I don't think it would hurt him to sit and watch the game for a minute. I'm not sure they'll do that as having both him and Smith out is... rough, but we'll see.

I definitely miss Smith in the lineup. He has a LONG way to go, but his elite skill pops periodically and we've got very few guys on the roster who can do what he can do.

I agree that it's rough. I may just be overcautious with Celebrini. I see the tail end of a long road trip in a rebuild year as an unnecessary risk to his health much less it being the Blues. I miss Smith too. He was starting to have more impact and have more things click on both sides of the ice before he got injured. I'm confident that he'll be back in the lineup Saturday.

 

[67 others]

Defense and goaltending was solid. Offense was putrid including the savior

Carolina is the best team in the league at shot suppression.

 

[TheBeard]

Carolina is the best team in the league at shot suppression.

No doubt they played well, but it was as if every single forward needed that extra half-second to make decisions and it gave Carolina all the time in the world to prepare. The only reason Luke balled out is because he doesn’t think. He just does stuff.

Vanacek looked a lot better than I was expecting. Not great but not the problem.
I'm assuming we're getting Georgie on Thursday?!

On to the next one...

You could probably put a blank sweater on both goalies and you’d have no idea.

Given that Warsofsky buried him on the third line for a while for no apparent reason, he may agree with you.

Toffoli is a limited player. Slow undeceptive skater with very little puck carrying utility. Not anything special as a passer. In order to get the max value from him, he needs to play with either Celebrini, Granlund, or Smith. He knows the right spots to go to, but other than the breakaway steal goal he had earlier this year, the only time he's gonna score is if someone passes him the puck when he's in a good spot or off a rebound. He should probably spend more time parked in front of the net, to be honest.

Honestly, I think Warsofsky has been a disgrace using him this year, but then his forward combinations have been my least favorite thing about him as a coach so far. But some of that has also been injury issues that have taken what little skill we have in the forward department off the ice.

Toffoli is a hired gun. Nothing more. Take passes and shoot. He’s trying to do more than that and the result is him doing very little.

 

[coooldude]

I think you guys are being a bit harsh on Toffoli. He's sneaky good at puck battles and he's not awful defensively. He's not a line driver but he is on a nearly 30 goal pace and has managed to look solid on the first, second, and third line.

What he is not, is Rantanen or Ovechkin or Kaprizov or Pastrnak. He's a $6mm player.

 

[Star Platinum]

The problem with Granlund - Smith - Toffoli is that line does not have enough puck retrieval.

I do think Toffoli is too slow to play with Celebrini and should never be paired with him.

There's never going to be a perfect second line with the pieces we have on this team unless Kovalenko shows some abilities he didn't get to show in Colorado. That's why we're a bad team. Just put the rest of your skill players on the second line and don't worry about what they can't do.