SAN JOSE – Forwards Rudolfs Balcers and Noah Gregor are taking part in as properly now as they've all season – little doubt aided by the arrival of slick, playmaking centerman Thomas Bordeleau.
Now it’s only a matter of whether or not that line, alongside the Sharks’ high two strains, can all produce on the identical at any level during the last 5 video games of the common season.
Thursday towards St. Louis, Balcers and Gregor mixed for the Sharks’ solely aim, whereas the highest line with Tomas Hertl, Timo Meier, and Jonathan Dahlen solely mixed for 2 photographs in what turned a 3-1 loss to the Blues at SAP Middle.
At one level early within the third interval with the Sharks down by one aim, coach Bob Boughner turned pissed off sufficient to maneuver Jeffrey Viel as much as play with Hertl and Dahlen, and drop Meier right down to play with Sasha Chmelevski and Scott Reedy on the fourth line.
“They weren’t serving to us as a line collectively in any respect tonight,” Boughner stated when requested in regards to the change.
General, since Sunday’s recreation, a 5-4 time beyond regulation loss to the Minnesota Wild, Logan Couture and Hertl each have one level and Meier has been held off the scoresheet.
It didn’t assist the Sharks that they took 5 minor penalties towards the Blues, three of which have been stick infractions that thwarted any potential momentum and drained a few of San Jose’s heavy minute gamers.
Nonetheless, the distinction in scoring depth between the Sharks and Blues proper now could be stark.
Boughner famous that the Blues’ third line of Ivan Barbashev, Brayden Schenn, and Jordan Kyrou, with 73 targets mixed, has scored greater than the trio of Hertl, Meier, and traditional top-line winger Alexander Barabanov, which has 71.
“So it was a problem for us tonight to attempt to match them and there have been occasions that we did an honest job,” Boughner stated. “However you’re not going to win a recreation scoring one aim, and also you’re not going to win towards these guys when the facility performs are 5 to at least one on the finish of the night time.
“You actually aren’t going to win towards these guys until your greatest gamers are your greatest gamers, and all three of these issues didn’t occur.”
Bordeleau, Balcers, and Gregor, beginning with Sunday’s recreation in Minnesota, have now mixed for 10 factors in three video games. Gregor and Balcers have 4 factors every and are about as productive and noticeable now as they’ve been all 12 months.
Balcers and Gregor received collectively for the Sharks’ solely aim Thursday, as Balcers lifted a puck from across the San Jose blue line into the Blues’ zone, the place Gregor caught as much as the puck and beat goalie Jordan Binnington five-hole for his sixth aim of the season.
“It’s been understanding fairly properly for us,” Gregor stated. “Rudy and I are fairly north and south and (Bordeleau) is ready to make performs and hit us with velocity and thus far within the video games we’ve performed collectively, we’ve performed fairly strong.”
Hertl, like folks within the Sharks group, loved what he noticed from Bordeleau in his first two NHL video games.
Bordeleau’s confidence with the puck on his stick has been evident proper off the hop, as he had one help every in video games towards Minnesota and Columbus, making some artful performs.
With out query, there are enhancements to be made, notably within the defensive zone. Principally thugh, Bordeleau has come as marketed.
“Immediately, first recreation, I’m impressed along with his ability, making performs,” Hertl stated Thursday morning. “Even once we observe energy play, he could make passes with out trying and also you see massive potential in him.
“It’s all the time (good) to see some younger. expert guys to coming onto the staff.”
Now it’s only a matter of whether or not multiple line can get going for the ultimate 5 video games of the season, beginning with Saturday’s date with the Chicago Blackhawks on Fan Appreciation Evening.
“We weren’t hiding (Bordeleau) or making an attempt to match up sure strains towards him, particularly after we didn’t have loads occurring on our massive line,” Boughner stated. “That was our greatest offensive line. They created probabilities tonight and once more, I assumed Noah and Rudy regarded good with Thomas.
“I assumed (Bordeleau) did properly. It was a giant, heavy recreation and he received in there and made performs. It wasn’t excellent by any means however it was an excellent check for him tonight.”