Sharks 2021-22 Game 59 Recap: Panthers 3, Sharks 2 (OT) (3/15/22)

 The Florida Panthers come back to defeat the Sharks 3-2 in overtime in Jumbo Joe Thornton's return to SAP Center. 

San Jose performed incredibly well in the first two periods but they kinda let the remainder of the game slip away from them. First things first, the Sharks presented a tribute video for Jumbo Joe for his first game at SAP Center as a member of the visiting team since 2003, and the crowd gave him a standing ovation. Logan Couture opened the scoring in the first period on the power play, which has been much better as of late, with his 20th goal of the season from Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier. The Panthers tie it up a few minutes later with a shorthanded goal from Jonathan Huberdeau, followed by the Sharks regaining their one-goal lead on Nicolas Meloche's second goal of the season. The second goal was set up very well by Tomas Hertl and Marc-Eduoard Vlasic, in which Meloche fired it to find the back of the net. 

There were a few fights about to go down in the second period, one between Patric Hornqvist and Jonah Gadjovich and the other between Mason Marchment and Nicolas Meloche, but the officials meddled in between both tussles before they ever fully went down. 

Early in the third period, Frank Vatrano tied it at two with his first goal of the game. Mason Marchment scored what was initially the go-ahead game-winner in the third, but it was challenged and overturned due to goalie interference. 

It only took about a minute into OT before Frank Vatrano scored the official game-winner and his second goal of the game to complete the Panthers' comeback. I can't entirely fault the Sharks for only getting a point out of this because the Panthers are one of the best-performing teams in the NHL this season. 

In addition, this was James Reimer's first game back from injury, recording 31 saves in the OT loss. John Leonard was recently called up from the Barracuda, who has been tearing up the AHL for much of this season. 

The Sharks make another brief trip to So Cal to face the LA Kings one last time this season in their next game on Thursday at 7 pm PT, which will be another ESPN+-exclusive game. 

Sources: Sharks Audio Network, NHL App