Tomas Hertl appeared to have tears in his eyes as he sang alongside to the Czech Republic’s nationwide anthem previous to the beginning of the San Jose Sharks common season recreation with the Nashville Predators at O2 Area in Prague.
Then in his first NHL recreation in his hometown, Hertl set off a wild celebration Friday contained in the 17,000-seat area, with a first-period aim that was adopted by an exuberant fist pump.
“It was a particular second for me,” Hertl informed the Sharks Audio Community after the primary interval. “Scoring in entrance of my household after they noticed me taking part in right here 10 years in the past, and I used to be simply so excited. I don’t even know what I used to be doing.”
These had been simply the Sharks’ largest highlights as they opened the season with a 4-1 loss to the Predators, a outcome that adopted the same script as years previous.
Goalie James Reimer stopped 28 of 31 photographs, however the Sharks couldn’t get a second puck previous Nashville’s Juuse Saros, who had 30 saves.
Hertl’s line with Timo Meier and Luke Kunin, per Pure Stat Trick, supplied twice as many scoring possibilities as every other Sharks line, one thing that occurred with regularity during the last two or three seasons.
The Sharks will attempt to right these points Saturday after they play the Predators to conclude the NHL’s World Sequence in Prague.
Takeaways from Friday’s Sharks loss.
1. MENTAL TOUGHNESS QUESTIONED: The Sharks started Friday’s recreation taking part in the up-tempo model coach David Quinn has been preaching, as they stayed aggressive on the forecheck and fired pucks on Saros at any time when potential.
However Nino Niederreiter’s aim late within the second interval that gave Nashville a two-goal lead appeared to zap no matter enthusiasm the Sharks had left, and the Predators largely cruised from there.
“I favored among the issues we had been doing however as soon as they made it 3-1, I actually thought there was an enormous disparity in the best way they performed in comparison with the best way we performed,” Quinn stated. “I assumed the final 25 minutes, they actually took it to us and I assumed we received slightly bit demoralized.
“We’ve received to toughen up slightly bit mentally in that division.”
Hertl’s aim on the 8:36 mark of the primary interval gave the Sharks a carry after Nashville’s Kiefer Sherwood had scored 61 seconds into the sport.
Quinn felt the Sharks stayed engaged after Eeli Tolvanen scored 1:24 into the second interval for a 2-1 Predators lead. However Niederreiter’s aim off a fairly cross from Dante Fabbro on a 2-on-1 principally sealed the deal.
Matt Duchene scored an empty-net aim with 32 seconds left within the third interval, because the Sharks are actually 1-6-1 in opposition to the Predators since March 2019.
The Sharks had been 4-31-3 final season when trailing after two durations, and 9-29-6 when the opponent scored the primary aim.
Most NHL groups have comparable successful percentages below these circumstances. Plus, the Predators are anticipated to make the playoffs this season whereas the Sharks will battle to remain out of the Pacific Division basement.
Nonetheless, Quinn needs the Sharks to play with a unique mindset than prior to now.
“Once you do get scored upon, you’ve received to battle again, which I assumed we did after we gave up the primary one early,” Quinn stated. “However within the final 25 minutes, they actually sort of set the tone and took it to us.”
2. PLAY THE KIDS?: It’ll be attention-grabbing to see what Quinn and his workers do in response to the loss. Definitely, some lineup changes shall be thought-about, with maybe both Thomas Bordeleau or William Eklund dressing for Saturday.
After the Sharks’ third line of Nick Bonino, Noah Gregor, and Matt Nieto was out-chanced 10-3 on Friday, perhaps the almost definitely change could be Bordeleau or Eklund changing Nieto, who would then doubtlessly transfer to the fourth line.
Quinn stated after the sport that it was too quickly to contemplate lineup modifications, and the Sharks wish to take their time with their prime two prospects. Nonetheless, Bordeleau and Eklund made the journey and will present the underside six ahead group with a jolt.
It additionally wouldn’t be a shock to see Jaycob Megna exchange Scott Harrington as Erik Karlsson’s protection associate. Harrington had 15:38 of ice time in his first NHL recreation since January however made a questionable resolution within the impartial zone to step up on Kiefer Sherwood, who received a cross by way of to Dante Fabbro for a 2-on-1 that led to the Niederreiter aim.
3. VLASIC’S GAME: Paired with Mario Ferraro, Marc-Edouard Vlasic had 20:00 of ice time Friday, a major bounce from the 15:13 he averaged final season as a third-pair defenseman below former coach Bob Boughner.
It’s simple to see the place Vlasic’s further minutes are coming from. He was sixth amongst all Sharks defensemen final season with a median of simply 50 seconds shorthanded per recreation, and Friday. he and Ferraro each had a team-high 3:57 on the kill.
Quinn and assistant Ryan Warsofsky, who co-ordinates the PK, wanted to seek out replacements for Brent Burns, who led the Sharks final season at 2:43 shorthanded per recreation. To date, Vlasic, who for years led the Sharks in penalty killing, has been positioned in that position.