The Sharks concede two shorthanded goals in 23 seconds and lose 6-3 on Hertl’s return to San Jose

The San Jose Sharks welcome Tomas Hertl and the Vegas Golden Knights to the SAP Center.

It’s Hertl’s first game back on Shark Tank since the shocking trade deadline deal.

Shakir Mukhamadullin scored his first NHL goal…Will Smith and Tyler Toffoli also scored, but the Sharks blew another late lead, 6-3.

Period 1

Nice homage to Tomas Hertl, well deserved! pic.twitter.com/QQLWC6h0b0

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 28, 2024

Tomas Hertl’s last game with #SJSharks was 01/27/24 against Sabres.

Only 5 Sharks teammates from that game (Kunin, Mukhamadullin, Rutta, Sturm, Zetterlund) just 11 months ago are playing for the Sharks tonight pic.twitter.com/bgPEoC5lSi

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 28, 2024

Vegas forecheck over Kovalenko, turnover on what has to be an exit.

2 in: Smith makes a hard play, soft pass high in tight quarters to Liljegren coming into the zone. It’s a deviously difficult move that requires a lot of finesse, which Smith pulls off.

Hanifin Gate: Hanifin is late alone, no one comes to pick him up. Someone has to get him. They also want Georgiev to get this.

7 in: Big Georgiev fends off Stone’s one-timer in this slot alone.

10 in: The San Jose Sharks escape a serious miscommunication. Free puck to go, it looks like Smith thought Zetterlund would get it and vice versa. Nobody does, and Georgiev has to face two straight A’s. Vegas ties, 8-2 lead.

9 left: Sturm does a good job picking out Pearson softly and giving Ceci a little space with the puck to try and get off the ball… but this move is very dangerous tonight. Ceci initially can’t do anything with the puck, almost loses it and manages to win it back. They create a nice, controlled exit for Ceci, who charges through the middle, but it results in nothing but a dismal but fruitless forecheck. This is not a slight insult to me. A lot of work for nothing. That’s Vegas’ prediction, but it’s also because the Sharks aren’t quite on par.

Mukhamadullin goal: Do you think Smith should also get an assist on the Mukhamadullin goal? After the draw, it doesn’t look like anyone touched him before Zetterlund won the puck. By the way, outstanding work by Zetterlund. Took it from Pietrangelo, whoa. This is a big league game. Then Mukhamadullin’s shot went wide, but Hill seemingly fired it into the net. In the words of DJ Khaled: Congratulations, you played yourself.

Smith received an assist on the Mukhamadullin goal, his first point of the month, first point in eight games (he missed more than a week with an upper body injury).

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 28, 2024

Celebrini Penalty: Eichel takes it from Celebrini, then Macklin takes it from him and staples it to the wall, but Mack is flagged for a catch. But the sequence is fun to watch. Another one of them, I can’t believe he’s 18 years old and he’s lashing out at his colleague at BU, who’s nine years older than him.

Period 2

Stone goal: It didn’t look like much at first, but the Golden Knights’ front line dominated the puck and the San Jose Sharks couldn’t win it. Then Ceci couldn’t hold on to Stone at the top, who jumped on the rebound.

Smith’s Goal: There’s so much I like about this piece. In fact, Grundstrom, persistent, made getting out of Vegas difficult. Didn’t cause turnovers but allowed Celebrini to do his best. Then Macklin, defensive play, then the diving dive to get it into the zone. Just wow. Then Smith in the slot, behind the back pass to Celebrini. Honestly, if that pass doesn’t work, we would destroy Smith. It’s nice to see his confidence is still high. And as Drew says, Smith is just hard on the paint.

9 left: This was a dominant O-zone shift from Celebrini. That was McNabb, a top defensive back, slipping in the corner.

6 left: Give the Sharks credit, Vegas wore them down and they pushed back, led by Celebrini but also other Class A players, Granlund against Toffoli, Sturm against Kunin, etc.

Toffoli goal: Just throw it towards the goal! Looks like outside Hague, past Hill. Nice Goodrow pass to Granlund for easy entry, Granlund speed gave way to Vegas.

3 left: One of Celebrini’s subtle abilities, he doesn’t get hit often. McNabb thought he had Macklin in the starting lineup, but Celebrini was able to avoid the worst. His head is always up.

Period 3

McNabb Gate: Not sure why Liljegren is sold out there? It’s McNabb. I would like to make a stop there.

Eichel’s goal: the massive errors. I like Wennberg this year and Eichel is Eichel, but too easy. Two goals conceded while outnumbered within 23 seconds.

Now that’s a spectacular way to lose a game.

Goal by Dorofeyev: High turnover by the Sharks in OZ, the Sharks are behind the game. Dorofeev in front of Ceci. It’s that simple.

9 left: A bit of commotion in the building as Celebrini picks up the puck at full speed. By the way, the audience was sold out when Hertl returned.

7 left: Dorofeyev fended off Liljegren on the forecheck in a one-on-one. Yuck.

2 left: The surprised Warsofsky didn’t take advantage of his timeout, but didn’t throw your top players with an empty net, like Dellandrea. Seems like a message.

Hague sets up Kovalenko, Wennberg gives a push, but Goodrow comes with full force. I’d love to see it. This is not a good Sharks team, but they have to stick together to get out of this.