The Sharks wrapped up their season series with
in-state rival Anaheim on Tuesday night, dropping a 4-3 decision in the
shootout. San Jose failed to answer the opening bell, and spent the rest of the
night chasing Anaheim. They scratched out a point by getting to the overtime if
not for a gritty 2nd and 3rd period, but the start really cost them.
The Sharks let a late period slide turn a manageable deficit into a steep hill
to climb. Trevor Zegras snapped a faceoff win past Alexandar Georgiev just 2:04
into the game. Zegras was positioned toward the top of the circle when Sam
Colangelo pulled it back to his linemate.
Shakir Mukhamadullin scored
his 2nd goal of the season 3 minutes later to knot the game at 1-1. The
defenseman ripped a shot from the right point that squeezed through Lukas
Dostal's pads. It was the start of a great night for the rookie until an injury
ended his night early in the 3rd period.
Jackson Lacombe helped
Anaheim reclaim the lead at 8:13 on a power play chance after Macklin Celebrini
was sent off for slashing.
What could only be summed up as a bad
period got worse when the Sharks allowed Colangelo to score in the final minute
of the period. With 4 Shark defenders standing in front of the net, Mason
McTavish put a puck on net and a rebound got lost in a sea of skates until
Colangelo fished it out of a scrum and flipped it home from the left post.
The Sharks played one of those middle periods that left everyone
scratching their heads. San Jose peppered Dostal with 14 shots in the period,
but they couldn't get a puck past him.
Mukhamadullin had one of the
best chances of the period when he skated a puck from behind the end line and
powered to the front of the net, only to have his shot attempt denied by
Dostal.
The Sharks defenseman was injured early in the 3rd period
after laying a check, Frank Vatrano took exception to the hit and went after
the rookie. The Ducks veteran hauled Mukhamadullin to the ice but caught the
young Russian's arm extended as they slid into the side board. Mukhamadullin
left in obvious discomfort with what was clearly an upper body injury. He would
not return.
Efficient shots on goal in the 3rd period got the
Sharks to the overtime period. First Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored his first goal
in over a year after the Ducks didn't fell like playing any more. First Dostal
was clipped as he stood well outside the crease and lay on the ice trying to
sell the hit. While that was going on, two Ducks went after Colin Graf along
the end boards. Vlasic collected the puck in the high slot and took two strides
before snapping the puck home to make it a 3-2 game with 16 minutes to play.
The Sharks looked cooked when the Ducks were awarded a lengthy 5-on-3
but San Jose was able to kill it off.
Alexander Wennberg tied the game
with 3:14 left in regulation, potting his 10th of the season.
Both
teams traded decent chances in the overtime, but neither team could score.
In the shootout, Will Smith, Celebrini and Tyler Toffoli all missed
their chances in the skills competition. Mctavish converted in the 3rd round to
end the game.
Game Notes: * It will be interesting to
see if there is any disciplinary action against Frank Vatrano after he injured
Shakir Mukhamadullin.
* Cam Lund had his 2-game goal-scoring streak
snapped.
* Mukhamadullin's goal was the 50th of the season by a Sharks
rookie. That is 5th all-time for San Jose. They scored 66 goals in their
inaugural 1991-92 season.
* Vlasic has scored at least one goal in his
19 NHL seasons, which ranks 4th by a defenseman scoring for one team.
* William Eklund recorded 8 of the Sharks 31 shots on goal.
