Sharks Surprise Somewhat Listless Seattle Kraken 4-0

The Seattle Kraken, with the 2nd best road record in the National Hockey League’s Western Conference at 17-8-and-3, went into San Jose on Monday to take on the Sharks, the team with the worst home record in all of the NHL at 5-14-and-7.

So the result was unexpected, as the Sharks came away with the 4-0 shut-out win.

Martin Jones started between the pipes for the Seattle Kraken, with James Reimer for the Sharks at the other end.

Seattle Kraken Turnovers

Usually in this space we’re listing Kraken goals, but Monday it was all about a weird San Jose goal and some bad Seattle turnovers.

The Sharks scored the opening goal in the 2nd period at 10:45 when Yanni Gourde won a face-off in his own zone for Seattle, but he won it backwards, through the legs of defenseman Vince Dunn and past goalie Jones just inside the post. Regardless of the traffic, it’s one Jones needs to stop.

The next goal came off a Dunn turnover, as he whipped a pass from the wing through the middle in his own end, which was knocked down by Evgeny Svechnikov, who wired home San Jose’s 2nd unassisted goal.

The third and final tally of the period came off a Jordan Eberle turnover. His outlet pass couldn’t be handled, again, up the middle in his own zone, and the bouncing puck ended up with Erik Karlsson who found Noah Gregor with room to step in and score. That was a bit of a back-breaker, as the 3-0 goal came with just 18-seconds remaining in the 2nd period.

Come From Behind Hockey …

… Is typically losing hockey. The Seattle Kraken created a few more chances in the third period, but it ended up being the proverbial “way too little, way too late.”

The Seattle Kraken outshot the Sharks 26-23. Power plays: Seattle 0-for-2, San Jose 0-for-2.

The Sharks would add an even strength goal in the third.

It’s the third time the Kraken have been shut-out this season and the second time in 13 days.

Seattle may have thought they were going to have an easy day, or they weren’t fond of the matinee start, but for whatever reason, they didn’t have their usual tenacious energy.

Seattle Kraken fans can hope this doesn’t turn in to a devastating loss as the stretch drive continues to unfold and Seattle finds itself in a tight race.

Next up, the NHL’s best overall team, the Boston Bruins on Thursday night at Climate Pledge Arena.