The San Jose Sharks suffered a frustrating 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, despite outshooting their opponents 41-14 [3, 4]. Will Smith, Philipp Kurashev, and Alex Wennberg found the back of the net for the Sharks, but a strong performance from the Kings' goalie and some perceived soft goals allowed proved to be the difference [2, 4].
Key Moments
The Sharks came out strong, dominating the Kings for much of the game [4]. However, key saves by the Kings' goaltender kept them in the contest, preventing the Sharks from capitalizing on their shot advantage [1]. A broken play late in the game led to a walk-in chance for Kempe, resulting in a crucial save by Sharks' goalie Askarov [3]. Shortly after, Clarke scored what would be the game-winning goal, a shot that Askarov seemingly wished he could have back [3]. With just four minutes remaining, the Sharks called a timeout and deployed the Celebrini line, along with Klingberg and Dickinson, in an attempt to tie the game [3]. This interesting strategic choice aimed to provide the rookie Celebrini with a favorable offensive zone start, testing his ability to perform under pressure [3].
Goaltending Under Scrutiny
While the Sharks' offense generated plenty of opportunities, their goaltending came under scrutiny [2]. There were suggestions that Askarov was giving up "softies," [2] and the game-winning goal by Clarke was a shot he likely felt he should have saved [3]. Some observers noted that league-average goaltending could have translated to a winning record for the team [2]. Despite Askarov's late save on Kempe, the focus remained on the goals that slipped through [3]. One fan commented on the need for Sharks goalies to "step up more" [2].
TL;DR
- The San Jose Sharks lost 4-3 to the Los Angeles Kings despite a significant shot advantage [4].
- Philipp Kurashev, Will Smith, and Alex Wennberg scored for the Sharks, but it wasn't enough [4].
- Sharks' goaltender Askarov faced criticism for allowing soft goals, impacting the game's outcome [2, 3].
- Coach deployed the Celebrini line late in the game, signaling a strategic focus on developing young talent [3].