Sharks Game 35 Recap: Sharks 4, Wild 2 (3/31/21)

 The Sharks are on a roll as they defeat the Wild 4-2 and sweep this two-game set with Minnesota. 

The first period was uneventful as the Sharks kept the Wild at bay and both teams' shot totals were pretty even. Scoring didn't begin until early in the second period when Rudolfs Balcers sniped one off a great pass from Tomas Hertl. Ryan Donato later scored on the power play to put the Sharks up 2-0 in the second by grabbing the rebound off of Brent Burns' shot from the point and stuffing it in on the backhand. Brent Burns recorded assists on both second period goals, good for a two-assist night. 

Towards the middle of the third period, Kirill Kaprizov scores to get the Wild on the board and cut the Sharks' lead in half. The Sharks got their two-goal lead back when Nikolai Knyzhov found a hole on Kaapo Kahkonen for his first goal of the season. Erik Karlsson got the primary assist while Tomas Hertl got his second assist of the game on the Knyzhov goal. Soon after, Kaprizov checked Logan Couture hard near the boards at the blue line, which leads Evander Kane and Ryan Hartman to go after each other and an an entire scrum to ensue. Once the scrum was over, both Kane and Hartman went to the box for two minutes each for roughing. 

In the final minute of the third, the Wild lessen their deficit by one as Mats Zuccarello tips in Kevin Fiala's shot to make it 3-2. Last but not least, as time expired in regulation, Evander Kane finds the empty net to seal the deal for the Sharks, with Logan Couture getting the apple on the empty-netter. 

Martin Jones had another incredible performance last night, making 26 saves on 28 shots against. 

With the miniseries sweep over the Wild, things are looking more promising for the Sharks as they are now four points out of a playoff spot. San Jose's next two games are Friday and Saturday in LA against the Kings, and their next seven are against the Kings and Ducks, two teams that the Sharks have played well against this season. For the Sharks, in addition to the Blues faltering, a run to the playoffs seems like more of a real possibility, and I'm getting excited about it. They are playing like they can compete with anyone right now, but let's keep our fingers crossed that the rest of the season turns in the Sharks' favor. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App