Sharks 2021-22 Game 68 Recap: Stars 5, Sharks 4 (4/2/22)

 The Sharks made it close after giving up four goals in the first period, but the Dallas Stars held on to win 5-4. 

Not a great outing, but could’ve been worse. The Sharks scored first via Nick Bonino from Noah Gregor and Erik Karlsson, only to surrender the next four in the first period to Vladislav Namestnikov, Jani Hakanpaa, Roope Hintz, and Jason Robertson. 

Kaapo Kahkonen was given the start in net against the Stars, but giving up four goals in the first frame forced him to get pulled, and James Reimer had to enter the game to start the second period. Brent Burns got one back for the Sharks to cut their deficit to two, with Sasha Chmelevski and Jaycob Megna assisting on the Sharks’ second goal. 

Towards the midway point of the third, Joe Pavelski extended the Stars’ lead back to three. It's great that Pavs scores, but not so much against his former team. The Sharks begin to mount a comeback effort later in the third with John Leonard's first goal of the season, followed by Logan Couture's 22nd goal of the season. The last goal was almost Sasha Chmelevski's first NHL goal as he tried to poke it in, but he was credited with his second assist of the game as Logan Couture last touched it, going to the backhand and finding the back of the net. 

Mario Ferraro was activated off of the IR before this game and recorded an assist on John Leonard's first goal of the year. Erik Karlsson and Noah Gregor each recorded a total of two assists in the 5-4 loss to the Stars. 

Kaapo Kahkonen only made 10 saves before he was pulled after the first period, while James Reimer made 14 saves on 15 shots after entering the game in the second period. 

In other news, although he didn't play at all this season due to injury, Nikolai Knyzhov was re-signed to a one-year deal worth $850k, who was a pending RFA. 

The Sharks have now entered the final month of their season, and as the playoffs become further out of reach for them, it's mainly a matter of the kids proving themselves and determining the roster for next season. Their next game is on Tuesday, when they face the Edmonton Oilers at the Tank at 7:30 pm PT. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App