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The San Jose Sharks came up short in another home game last night, falling 5-2 to the Chicago Blackhawks.
The only lineup change for the Sharks was Jonah Gadjovich coming into the lineup for Noah Gregor, while Kaapo Kahkonen got the start.
Ahead of the game, the Sharks and Blackhawks honoured Doug Wilson, with the Sharks raising a banner into the rafters.
Early in the game, Chicago was getting some good early chances and the Sharks ended up going without a shot through the first half of the period. San Jose did start to build a bit of momentum in the back half of the frame through and opened the scoring, with Erik Karlsson making a great move to open up a lane, then passing the puck to Nico Sturm, who beat Petr Mrazek before he could get over in time. Then in the final minute of the frame, Karlsson helped to extend San Jose’s lead with a great pass to Logan Couture in front, who redirected the puck past Mrazek to give the Sharks a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.
The Blackhawks really didn’t get much going through the early stages of the second period but later on, after the Sharks couldn’t manage a clean zone exit, Jonathan Toews took a pass from Tyler Johnson and went in alone, beating Kaapo Kahkonen. Then only about a minute later, Sam Lafferty won a race down ice while shorthanded to create a 2-on-1 down low, and after dishing a pass to Jason Dickinson, Lafferty buried the rebound for a shorthanded goal to tie the game. Then only two minutes after that on yet another power play, the Blackhawks ended up with another 2-on-1 and while they couldn’t convert on the initial chance, Jason Dickinson got the puck past multiple Sharks and out to Lafferty in front for the Blackhawks’ second shorthanded goal in about two minutes. After the series of quick goals, the Blackhawks took a 3-2 lead, which they held going into the second intermission.
The Sharks showed little life in the third period, managing just six shots on goal. Just over five minutes into the period, Mario Ferraro’s shot was blocked by Tyler Johnson, resulting in a breakaway for Taylor Raddysh, who beat Kahkonen to make it 4-2. Then later, after Tomas Hertl took a wild swing at the puck and missed and multiple Sharks were caught up ice, yet another odd-man rush went back the other way and Dickinson beat Kahkonen with a great shot to make it a three-goal lead. That basically sealed it, as Chicago cruised to a 5-2 win.
That makes four-straight losses for San Jose to start the season.
The commitment to defense was almost non-existent for the Sharks through parts of the game and San Jose gave up several avoidable odd-man rushes. This seemed like an ideal game to pick up their first win against a weak opponent but blowing a lead by allowing three goals in about three minutes, with two of those goals coming shorthanded, was brutal.
The Sharks’ offense realistically isn’t looking much better, with six goals over their first four games. Now with a four-game Eastern Conference road trip coming up, things already aren’t looking good for San Jose.
The team’s next game comes on Tuesday against the New York Islanders.
OTHER ARTICLES FROM OCTOBER
Sharks announce additions to Hockey Operations staff, sign Scott Harrington
Sharks drop season opener in Prague, fall 4-1 to Predators
Sharks fall short against Predators in second game of Global Series
Sharks announce roster for home opener
Sharks fall to Hurricanes in Brent Burns’ return to San Jose 
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