After a week without any games due to postponements, the Sharks were back in action last night as they defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-4 in the shootout and in back-and-forth fashion. This was a much-needed win as the Sharks enter a critical stretch of games against their in-state rivals that they should be able to beat.
Team Teal got off to a good start in the first period with a goal by Matt Nieto from a pretty pass from Marcus Sorensen on a 2-on-1 opportunity. Sasha Chmelevski, who made his official NHL debut in this game, was credited with the secondary assist on the first goal. Nieto and Chmelevski, natives of Long Beach and Huntington Beach respectively, became the third pair of California-born teammates to each record a point on the same goal. The Sharks dominated the first period against the Ducks and led 1-0 at the end of the first.
Second periods haven't been friendly to the Sharks this season, and this game was no different. Things fell apart for San Jose in the second as they allowed three unanswered goals by the Ducks from Adam Henrique, Troy Terry, and Max Comtois. The Sharks' defense was soft, and their power play unit was horrible once again. The Sharks trailed 3-1 after two periods. Overall, the Sharks have a -12 differential in second periods this season, allowing 17 goals and scoring five goals. This troubling trend needs to improve if the Sharks are any bit serious about making a playoff push this season.
Team Teal needed to bounce back in the third period if they wanted any chance of winning this game, and they did just that. The Sharks answered back with three unanswered goals of their own, eventually retaking the lead. The first goal of the third was from Logan Couture 39 seconds into the period, with helpers from Evander Kane and Brent Burns. The second goal came from Evander Kane while shorthanded on a breakaway chance, tying the game. The third goal came from Brent Burns, retaking the lead for Team Teal. This also happened to be Burnzie's 700th NHL point, with Ryan Donato assisting on the third Sharks goal in the third. However, the Ducks tied it again a few minutes later on Max Comtois' second goal of the game to send it to overtime and eventually a shootout.
San Jose earned the extra point in this game from successful shootout attempts from Ryan Donato and Kevin Labanc. Both Donato's and Labanc's attempts were beautiful, especially the move that Donato made by waiting for John Gibson to fall, moving around him, then going top cheese.
Martin Jones recorded 33 saves on 37 shots from the Ducks. Patrick Marleau took sole possession of fourth all-time in games played with 1,732.
The Sharks resume their current series against the Ducks in Anaheim tonight at 7 pm PT. Devan Dubnyk will be the starting goaltender in tonight's game, and their lineups are expected to be shuffled again despite winning the first game in this series.
It wasn't their best win, but all that matters to me was that San Jose came out on top last night despite the rough second period and the Ducks forcing extra time. The Sharks will need to win at least two of their next three games in order to gain enough ground in the West Division and set themselves apart from the other teams in that division competing for at least the fourth spot to make the playoffs.
Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, ESPN, NHL.com
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