On their last shift, the San Jose Sharks penalty kill finally got it right.
No, seriously.
This minute, admittedly against the Toronto Maple Leafs’ second power play unit, featured all the hallmarks of a solid Sharks’ kill: Casual pressure up the ice, suffocating pressure in zone. In particular, Barclay Goodrow (23) and Melker Karlsson (68) hounded the puck relentlessly.
This aggressive approach is designed to force mistakes. And San Jose’s penalty kill, up to giving up three power play goals in a 5-3 loss to Toronto, was the league’s best.