Sharks 2022-23 Game 38 Recap: Stars 5, Sharks 2 (12/31/22)

 The Sharks close out the 2022 calendar year with their third straight loss, a 5-2 defeat to the Dallas Stars. 

The Sharks got off to a good start in this one, but most of the rest of the game in Dallas unsurprisingly didn’t go their way. That first goal in fact came early in the first period via Alexander Barabanov from Matt Benning and Erik Karlsson. This is Alexander Barabanov’s fifth goal of the season, and Erik Karlsson has extended his point streak to 12 games, tying a Sharks franchise record. About five minutes later, Joe Pavelski evened things up for the Stars by tipping one in on the power play. Shortly after, the Stars went ahead on a different power play chance, this time via Jason Robertson. This is what happens when the Sharks are undisciplined and can't stay out of the penalty box.

Radim Simek exited the game near the midway point of the first period due to what I believe to be an undisclosed injury. The Sharks tied the game at two in the second period on Oskar Lindblom's third goal of the season from Nico Sturm and Marc-Eduoard Vlasic. Soon after, an errant turnover by the Sharks led to Fredrik Olofsson scoring to put the Stars back on top. Joe Pavelski recorded two assists on the Stars' second and third goals of the game, bringing his total to three points in this contest against his former team. What an impressive performance by Pavelski, who still remains a favorite player of mine and one of my all-time favorite Sharks. 

Late in the third period, the Stars added on two more goals via a shorty from Roope Hintz and an empty-netter by Esa Lindell to win by three. 

James Reimer was back in net for the Sharks, recording 26 saves on 30 shots against in the losing effort. 

Team Teal is back in action tomorrow on New Year's Day, when they travel to Chicago to face the Blackhawks in the second game of a back-to-back at 4 pm PT. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App, Bay Area News Group 

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