Megan: Wait, hold on. Did we just watch Sam Dickinson score the only goal in a 2-1 loss to Calgary? That feels wrong. That feels like a glitch in the matrix.
Steve: It is a glitch in our momentum, Megan. We predicted a 3-2 win over Calgary. We predicted Macklin Celebrini would get a goal and an assist. Instead, we got a fourth-line grind fest where Adam Klapka and William Stromgren outshined everyone.
Megan: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Megan, and this is your daily Sharks preview show. Steve is here with me, looking at the tape, trying to figure out what went sideways in Calgary last night.
Steve: Good morning, Sharks fans. It’s November 3rd, and we are sitting at 7-8-1, eighth in the Western Conference. The road ahead gets steeper today as we look toward Los Angeles.
Megan: Here is what we are covering today. First, the fallout from that tough 2-1 defeat to the Flames and why the special teams didn't save us. Second, a deep dive into the injury report that is shaping up for tonight's game against the LA Kings. And third, our keys to the game and a bold prediction for the Pacific Division showdown.
Steve: It’s going to be a long night in California if we don’t fix the neutral-zone play. Let’s get into it.
Megan: Okay, let’s talk about Calgary. We went in there hoping to build on that winning streak, but instead, we watched Dustin Wolf make 26 saves while our offense sputtered. Sam Dickinson was the lone bright spot with a goal and an assist, but he’s a defenseman. We needed more from the top six.
Steve: Right. And it wasn’t just the scoring. The forecheck was non-existent. Calgary came in with a road losing streak of their own, desperate for points, and they matched our physicality line-for-line. When Kiefer Sherwood or Mason Marchment were pressed, we couldn’t get clean zone entries. You can’t beat a team like Calgary when you’re giving up easy breakouts.
Megan: I remember back on Halloween, we talked about defensive discipline being the key. Well, last night, it looked like we forgot the playbook. Jonathan Huberdeau is on IR, so we lost some creative spark, but even without him, we should be generating more high-danger chances than one per game.
Steve: Exactly. And look at the goaltending battle. Yaroslav Askarov played well, but when you’re facing a team like Calgary that has depth scoring from the fourth line, you need every stop. Jacob Trouba had an assist, which is great for leadership, but defensively, we gave up too much real estate in the slot.
Megan: So, what does this mean for tonight? We are heading to Los Angeles to face the Kings. They are 4-7-2, so they aren’t exactly dominant right now, but they are a division rival. This is a must-win game to keep pace in the Pacific.
Steve: Must-win is an understatement. If we lose two in a row, the gap between us and the teams above us widens significantly. We need to respond. Not with a press conference, but with hockey plays. Aggressive forechecking, sharp passing, and stopping the puck at the blue line.
Megan: Before we get into the injuries and who is playing tonight, I want to take a quick breath. These daily breakdowns are designed to fit right into your morning routine or commute, giving you the edge before the puck drops. If you find value in keeping up with the Sharks every single day, consider supporting the show directly. A small contribution through the link in the episode description helps keep this coverage free and consistent for all of us. Thank you for listening.
Steve: Alright, let’s look at the roster. This is the part that keeps general managers awake at night. The injury list is still extensive. Igor Chernyshov, Alexander Wennberg, Quentin Musty, Kyle Keyser, Devin Cooley, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Samuel Honzek are all on Injured Reserve.
Megan: That is a lot of bodies missing. And then you have Brennan Othmann and Connor Zary listed as Out. So, who is actually available to dress tonight against the Kings?
Steve: You’ve got your core group. Filip Bystedt, Macklin Celebrini, Ty Dellandrea, Barclay Goodrow, Michael Misa, Zack Ostapchuk, Will Smith, and Tyler Toffoli are all healthy at center. On the wings, you have Igor Chernyshov—wait, no, he’s IR. So it’s Mason Marchment, Kiefer Sherwood, Ivar Stenberg, Adam Gaudette, Patrick Giles, Collin Graf, Brett Leason, and Nolan Allan.
Megan: So, no Wennberg, no Huberdeau. That means the second line is going to look very different. Who do you see getting the nod alongside Celebrini and Smith?
Steve: I think you’re going to see a mix of experience and speed. Ivar Stenberg has been showing flashes. He’s young, but he knows how to handle pressure. And Adam Gaudette provides that grit on the third line. But honestly, the biggest question mark is the defense pairings. With Keyser out, you have to shuffle the deck.
Megan: Let’s talk defense. Darnell Nurse, Dmitry Orlov, Jacob Trouba, Sam Dickinson, Michael Fisher, Libor Hajek, Mattias Havelid, and Michael Kesselring are the options. Who starts tonight?
Steve: Trouba and Nurse are the anchors. They’re going to play heavy minutes. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see Sam Dickinson move up. He scored last night, he has energy, and he can join the rush. Pairing him with Orlov gives you a good mix of size and skill.
Megan: And in net? Alex Nedeljkovic and Yaroslav Askarov are both healthy. Kyle Keyser is on IR, so it’s a straight-up competition. Who starts against LA?
Steve: Askarov. He’s earned it. He’s been steady. But if he struggles early, Nedeljkovic is a reliable backup. The coaching staff needs to trust Askarov to bounce back from that Calgary performance.
Megan: Okay, so we have our lines, our pairs, and our goalie. Now, what do we need to do to win this game? What are the keys to the game against the Kings?
Steve: Number one: Win the faceoffs. The Kings are strong on the boards. If we lose the dot, we lose the game. Number two: Power play efficiency. We were dead last in the league earlier this month. We cannot afford to go three-for-twenty again. Every shift matters.
Megan: And number three? Penalty kill. We gave up too many odd-man rushes against Calgary. Against a team like LA, that’s fatal. We need to clear the crease and block shots.
Steve: Agreed. And finally, physicality. The Kings are a big, physical team. We need to match them hit-for-hit. If we play soft, we get pushed around. We need to bring the intensity from the first whistle.
Megan: So, bold prediction time. We predicted 3-2 over Calgary. We missed. We predicted 3-1 over Ottawa. We missed. But tonight, against LA? I think we snap this skid. I’m predicting a 4-2 win for the Sharks. Macklin Celebrini gets a goal and an assist, and Will Smith adds two points.
Steve: I’ll go with 3-2. Tight game. Askarov makes a few big saves in the third period to seal it. But the key is the power play. If we convert on two of our opportunities, we win. I’m sticking with Askarov making ten saves in the third period, just like we hoped against Ottawa.
Megan: There you have it. A 3-2 Sharks victory, powered by strong special teams and Askarov’s netminding. We’ll see you after the game for the recap.
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Megan: Thanks for listening to the Beatline Podcast Network. Go Sharks!