Puck Ponderings

The Barracuda got out to a two-goal lead in the first, and held on until the third, with Dell making some great saves. But some bad penalties let the Reign tie it up in the third, and win it early in OT.

Sharks @ Coyotes 160121

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Former Sharks on opponent: none

Sharks had a couple of mental errors, were burned by a (bad) goal review, and lost in the shootout to the Senators. Win streak ended.

After a day off the ice, and an evening celebrating the team’s 25 years, it’s back to business and heading off to the desert for the first meeting of the season between the Sharks and the Coyotes, with the dads (or brothers). Ben Smith was put on waivers Wednesday and with either report to his new team, or the AHL Barracuda; that move was made so that Zubrus could be activated from the IR for the game. (Torres is still on conditioning stint in the AHL, but had a set back after playing back-to-back games on the road over the weekend.)

The Coyotes are coming off a 1-2 loss to the Sabres on Monday, their third straight loss. This puts them in a three-way tie for 2nd in the division with the Sharks and Canucks. But they’ll be celebrating tonight: captain Shane Doan’s 380th goal, which gives him the franchise title.

Jones likely to start for the Sharks.

Update: Smith clears waivers.

Sharks vs Senators 160118

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Former Sharks on opponent: Milan Michalek (feature); Shean Donovan, player development coach

Sharks are coming off their first home win (since LAST January) that the opponent scored first. And their first win over former Shark Niemi since he was traded.

But now they face the Senators, who grabbed the points in a game against the Kings on Saturday. And would like to sweep the season series over the Sharks.

Barracuda vs Condors 160118

Back from the midwest, the Barracuda are looking for an afternoon win to allow Sommer to tie the AHL record for wins.

Bakersfield Condors are on the road to play in San Jose.

Greger Hansen was released from PTO.

AHL game summary | Barracuda recap | Gackle Report

Too many penalties taken, not enough defense. Sommer does not tie AHL winning record for another game.

Sharks vs Stars 160116

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Former Sharks on opponent: Travis Moen, Jason Demers, Antti Niemi; Tom Holy, PR

Sharks fought the Oilers in a very defensive game, but prevailed in the shootout where Pavelski and Donskoi scored, but Jones let nothing in. The first time this season they’ve had a home win streak; four win streak on the line Saturday. With 3 games in four days, the guys got an unscheduled day off Friday.

Now the Stars come ‘avisitin’. They were in Anaheim Friday night and had a frightening 4-2 loss with Lehtonen in net. So that may mean that Niemi gets to defend the blue paint for the Stars against the Sharks.

With a healthy team, the Sharks are starting to “fire on all cylinders” now. Missing key pieces in the first half of the season did not allow DeBoer to put players in positions to succeed, but moreso to stem the hemorrhaging.

Barracuda @ Wild 160116

After their Friday night win, the guys got on the bus for a four hour ride to Des Moines. They’ll have a chance to sleep in and report to the arena this afternoon to face the Iowa Wild.

As Grosenick started yesterday, it’s likely that Dell will start today.

Sommer needs one win to tie the AHL all time coaching win record.

Dell kept a shutout going until the third, but the game headed to OT and the Barracuda lost to the Wild 1-2. But their point streak continued. Sommer is one win from tying AHL record for wins.

Barracuda @ Ice Hogs 160115

Point streak continues. Barracuda head to the midwest for two.

Torres to make regular season debut.

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Grosenick in net; had fan club (family and friends) from Wisconsin head down to Illinois to cheer him on.

Barracuda led the game 2-1 after first period, traded goals in 2nd period, and put the hammer down in the third to win 5-2.

Sharks vs Oilers 160114

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Former Sharks on opponent: head coach Todd McLellan and staff; TV analyst Drew Remenda

Sharks pushed ahead through some power plays to take a commanding lead, then hang on while the Flames were unable to tie it up in regulation. Another two-game road trip with 100% of the points in the bank.

With the Sharks’ 41st game in the books, Raffi Torres has finished his suspension. Zubrus was put on IR so Torres could be put on the NHL active roster. Torres was then assigned to the AHL Barracuda on a conditioning stint and could make his season debut in the midwest as the Barracuda finish up a 3-game road trip in Rockford, IL and Des Moines, Iowa this week. (Next Barracuda home game is 1/18 in the afternoon, followed by a Sharks game that evening.)

Now, the Sharks former coach comes to SAP Center for the first time this season. Edmonton is sitting last in the division and conference, with 38 points. Wünderkind Connor McDavid and Oscar Klefbom are on the IR and won’t be back until after the ASG. Nail Yakupov could return Thursday from a sprained ankle. But the Oilers have not fully “turned things around” to go from pretender to contender status in the league.

The Sharks are currently 3rd in the division, with 44 points, in 41 games; they have games in hand on every team in the league but two. So the Sharks need to win those in-hand games to rise up the standings.

Guessing it may be Jones in net for the Sharks.

Barracuda @ Gulls 160113

Cuda hit the road for three games, with lots of travel. First up: San Diego. They are top of the division.

It was announced that Raffi Torres was assigned to the AHL Barracuda on a conditioning stint after his suspension was over; he won’t be in the lineup Wednesday, but perhaps make his Cuda debut one of the games later on this road trip.

Barracuda score in OT to keep the point and win streak going.

Sharks @ Jets 160112

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