Jabber Jaws: Karlsson “disrespected”

Mar 8, 2023 - 8:58 PM

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Another tough go of it for the San Jose Sharks, who looked slow even at the start of the 6-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

The deck was stacked against the Sharks from the beginning. Not only was it the second night of back-to-back games, but the Sharks went from playing at 784 feet above sea level in Winnipeg to playing at 5,280 feet above sea level less than 24 hours later in Denver. That’s not an easy switch for even the fittest of athletes.

Add in the fact that the Sharks faced a rested Avalanche team that’s competing for a wild card spot in the Western Conference and coming off a losing streak and it was a recipe for disaster.

Tank for Bedard race

The good news is, the Sharks continue to keep pace in the Tank for Bedard race.

Thanks to the regulation loss, the Sharks maintain the 30th position in the NHL standings. While San Jose has the same number of points as the Anaheim Ducks, the Ducks have a game in hand.

Trailing the Sharks in the standings is the Chicago Blackhawks, who have just one point fewer than the Sharks and two games in hand. The Columbus Blue Jackets are three points behind with one game in hand.

Better yet, if you’re measuring by points percentage, the Sharks are actually 31st in the league as of this morning.

Sharks lose to Avalanche 6-0

Back to the game, where things came to a head in the third period when Erik Karlsson took a high stick in front of the ref and received no call on the play.

Karlsson tossed his lid from the bench and received two minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, a ten minute game misconduct and bloody lip as a bonus. After the game, the defenseman had plenty to say.

Karlsson on the missed high-sticking penalty

“Just a little disrespectful, I think, from their end, but it is what it is. I understand that, you know, they have a tough job, and, you know, things are going to get, you know, missed and stuff, but I found that was a hard one to miss, and you know, I didn’t even say anything bad. To get disrespected like that, it’s tough to take, and I mean, I lost my cool a bit after that. I apologize for that, but, you know, it doesn’t matter if it’s 6-0 game or 1-0 game we’re still out there trying to play our hardest and, you know, keep it within the means that we can, and, stuff happens sometimes.”

“If I would have said something really offside, I think, you know, I would have been the first one to say I deserved it, but I don’t think so. But again, I don’t make the rules. I try and to apply to them, and it’s just tough when...it’s a gray area sometimes, and I don’t really know what to say. It’s the second game in a row now.”

“I talked to...Corey, and he just said, you know, he was right behind me. I had the puck. Said he couldn’t see it; couldn’t guess. I heard some other guys say that, you know, maybe I fell a little bit too easy or something, and that was pretty much it. You know, would’ve been nice to just get a ‘We missed that one. We’re sorry.’ and we could have all moved on, but I don’t think we’re going to get to that point now.”

Head Coach David Quinn on the missed penalty

“They said they didn’t see it. Corey said he was behind him and didn’t see it.”

For reference, the team reffing last night’s game included Gord Dwyer, the same guy who got into it with Quinn following the Washington Capitals game at SAP Center on Saturday. Dwyer tossed Quinn from that game, but Quinn says they’re fine now.

“No. No, I didn’t. No. No, we buried the hatchet. He and I talked it out so we’re good.”

Karlsson on last night’s results

“I think they're obviously a much better hockey team than we are. They came out ready to pay and put us on our heels right from the start. Once that happens, they were in control of the game, and we were second-guessing every decision that we made, and that’s why, you know, it looked the way it did. You know, that’s unfortunate but it happens sometimes and just gotta regroup and just, hopefully, just throw this one in the garbage.”

Quinn on playing the Avalanche

“That was as dominant a performance as I’ve seen all year. Hasn’t happened to us all year. A, they’re very good. B, we’ve gone through a lot the last few weeks, like a lot of teams have. But, you know, big win last night and travel here, but everybody plays back-to-backs. Anything that could have gone wrong did. Didn’t show any type of characteristics that we have throughout the season, and we just have to move forward here quickly.”

Nico Sturm gets his ring

Finally, if you missed it, Nico Sturm was the last of the Avs Stanley Cup team to receive his ring.