Coming of their 4-3 shootout win in Los
Angeles on Monday night the Sharks had their excuse to mail in their game
against the New York Rangers. Down their number one defenseman and staring at a
2-0 deficit in the 3rd period, the Sharks went to work on tired legs and
chipped away at the Rangers lead. They would extend things to overtime where
Tomas Hertl scored a big overtime goal to give the Sharks a dramatic 3-2 win.
Call it a shot of late adrenaline or just inspired play, but the
Sharks looked like a different team in after falling behind 2-0.
The
game winning goal was a sight to behold. Alexander Barabanov carried the puck
around the Rangers zone, before utilizing a pick to get the puck to Jan Rutta.
With two defenders in the vicinity, Rutta found Hertl on the off wing for a
slam duck shot as Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin unsuccessfully made a last
ditch bid with a diving attempt that fell short.
Wins have been few
and far between this season, but Hertl's goal gave San Jose victories in their
last three games. The Sharks hadn't won more than two games all season.
Adam Fox staked the Rangers to a 1-0 lead at 7:55 of the opening
period, when he jammed a puck under Mackenzie Blackwood from the top of the
crease. Alexis Lafraniere put a puck on net from the left side, but the Sharks
defense neither cleared the rebound or picked up Fox who converted his chance
into his 8th of the season.
Vincent Trocheck was sent off for kneeing
Kyle Burroughs in an area that no man should be met with an angry knee. The
penalty came 1:23 left in the period, but the Sharks failed to convert on their
abridged power play, or with the time that carried over to the 2nd period.
That hurt even more when Artemi Panarin scored his 29th of the season
1:38 into the middle frame. The Rangers forward carried the puck through the
high slot that turned and fired from the top of the right circle, using a
screen to get his waist high shot past Blackwood.
New York out-shot
the Sharks 12-6 in the middle frame, essentially muzzling the Sharks offense
for the majority of the period.
Aside from the size mismatch, the
Sharks were slower than the Rangers to pucks. Perhaps it was the remnants of
having played a day earlier in Los Angeles. Whatever the reason, the sharks
struggled to pressure the New York net in the period.
Nico Sturm
changed that with a smart play early in the 3rd period. The veteran forward
intercepted a Rangers clearing attempt as he skated toward the end boards.
Rather than carry the puck behind the New York net, he elected to throw it at
Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin. The puck appeared to hit Shesterkin in the
right skate and deflecting into the net for Sturm's 3rd goal of the season.
San Jose had something to play for only trailing by
a single goal at that point.
Ryan Carpenter tied the game at 2-2 when
he deflected a Jan Rutta shot. Carpenter was fighting off a defender out in
front of the Rangers net when Rutta sent in a blast from the right point.
Carpenter's stick blade altered the puck slightly left, which was enough to
fool Shesterkin.
A ill-timed cross-checking penalty to Calen Addison
at 14:06 setup a 3rd power play for the Rangers on the night. San Jose subdued
the NHL's 2nd ranked power play in all three cases. but the 3rd period case was
key.
In the overtime period Logan Couture just missed on a 2-on-1
break, sailing a shot wide left of the net. New York countered with a pair of
shots on Blackwell, but the netminder held firm. Rutta and Hertl did their
thing the next time San Jose gained the Rangers zone.
Game
Notes: * The Sharks started their tour de no Mario Ferrraro as the
defenseman missed his first game since injuring what appeared to be his left
ankle in Los Angeles on Monday night.
* The Sharks sent Scott Sabourin
to the SJ Barracuda on Tuesday.
* With his goal, Ryan Carpenter has
recoded a point in his last 4 games, which is a career high. Nico Sturm has
recorded a point in 3 straight games courtesy of his goal. Jan Rutta also has
points in 3 straight games.
* The Sharks announced 12,892 tickets
sold.
* Henry Thru was dinged up by the SAP Center boards in the 3rd
period. The Sharks are already thin on the blueline with Mario Ferraro's
injury. He was visibly in discomfort on the Sharks bench but would return to
the game.
