Sharks 2022-23 Game 17 Recap: Sharks 3, Wild 2 (SO) (11/13/22)

 The Sharks come from behind in the third period and get it done in the shootout against the Minnesota Wild for their fifth win of the season 3-2. 

Team Teal didn't get off to the best start in this one, but that didn't matter as they made up for it later on. The Wild scored the first goal of the game in the first period via Freddy Gaudreau to make it 1-0 in favor of Minnesota through two periods. Although the second period was scoreless, Radim Simek had to leave the game after the elbow of Mason Shaw made contact with Simek's head. 

Early in the third while on the power play, a mishap by Erik Karlsson in which he fell backwards while handling the puck created a 2-on-0 opportunity for the Wild that led to a goal by Connor Dewar to extend the Wild's lead to two. This mishap could've proven costly to the Sharks, but this was only until about six minutes left in regulation, when Steven Lorentz put the Sharks on the board with his second goal of the season. Marc-Eduoard Vlasic and Matt Benning assisted on the Sharks' first goal of the game. Two minutes later, the Sharks tied the game at two via Nico Sturm to force bonus hockey, with Erik Karlsson and Marc-Eduoard Vlasic collecting the assists on the equalizer. 

Unlike their last three shootouts this season, this one in Minnesota went the Sharks' way. Kirill Kaprizov scored the first successful attempt of the shootout in the third round for the Wild. Nick Bonino made his attempt in the sixth round for the Sharks, but the difference-maker Alexander Barabanov's first shootout attempt of his NHL career in the tenth round, in which he went five-hole and scored the game-winner.

James Reimer was excellent in net against the Wild, recording 28 saves. In addition, EK65 logged just over 34 minutes of ice time in the victory over the Wild, his most as a Shark. 

This Sharks team has been finding its groove and getting better as the season progresses, which is great to see. Their upcoming schedule isn't getting any easier, but hopefully they can remain consistent and compile even more of a win streak. Next up, Team Teal makes one last stop on their current road trip in Vegas against the Golden Knights on Tuesday at 7 pm PT. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App

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