The Sharks rolled the dice on Tuesday night and lost. In what was a tightly contest game between them and the host Vancouver Canucks, the Sharks challenged a Canucks goal with 3 minutes remaining in the 2nd period that should have been overturned. The hard luck Sharks didn't get the benefit of the doubt on the call and what was a 2-1 game ballooned into a 4-1 contest after the Canucks then scored on a power play they were awarded for the Sharks unsuccessful challenge.

Such is Sharks hockey these days. In a just world, the play on Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov should have been ruled goaltender interference. and the sharks would have been in this game.

His stick was tied up then an Elias Pettersson shot sailed over his right shoulder to help the Canucks grab the 3-1 lead.

San Jose was assessed a delay of game penalty, then Mario Ferraro was forced to take a hooking penalty after JT Miller sped passed him on the way to the net. The ensuing 5-on-3 power play was like shooting fish in a barrel for The Canucks.

Petterson scored his second goal of the game with just over 2 minutes left in that fateful 2nd period. The Swedish forward collected a puck near the bottom of the right circle, then slowly krept in on Askarov before snapping a laser to the upper left corner of the net for the 4-1 lead.

The Sharks actually led in the 1st period when William Eklund scored his 7th of the season after Carson Soucy and Derek Forbort took penalties 41 seconds apart. The Sharks forward sent a one-time chance from the bottom of the right circle after Mikael Granlund set him up with a pass from the high slot.

The Sharks had chances to build on their lead, but they failed to put any more rubber past Thatcher Demko in the opening period even though they out-shot the Canucks 10-6 in the period.

Eklund suffered an undisclosed injury after being on the short end of a full body check in the opening period by Tyler Myers. The young Swede did not return after the first intermission. Brock Boeser tied the game at 14:10 after Ferraro was turned the wrong way when Quinn Hughes sent the puck to the front of the Sharks goal. All Boeser had to do was get a stick blade on the shot with Ferraro facing the wrong direction and unable to tie up the Canucks forward.

Kiefer Sherwood broke the tie at 16:42 of the 2nd period when he snapped a shot past Askarov on a partial rush up the right side.

That's when the wheels fell off the bus for San Jose. Vancouver turned a 1-1 game into a 4-1 lead in a span of 70 seconds.
BR> Cody Ceci made it a 4-2 game with his 2nd goal of the season early in the 3rd period to give the Sharks a glimmer of hope. The defenseman unloaded on a shot from the top of the right circle that hit Demko in the right leg pad. The shot had enough momentum on it to continue through the netminder's pads, trickling over the goal line. Luke Kunin scored with 5.4 seconds left after the Sharks pulled Askarov but it was too little, too late.

In the end the Sharks didn't quit, but they're not a team that overcome 3 goal deficits very often. In the end, they would fall 4-3.

Game Notes:

* The game was a homecoming for Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini, who grew up in British Columbia. Celebrini was a self-professed Canucks fan growing up, but has been clear about his allegiance to the franchise that's signing his pay checks.

* Vancouver Thatcher Demko moved to an incredible 12-0-0 lifetime against San Jose.

* Defenseman Jake Walman was a scratch. He did not participate in the morning skate.

* Yaroslav Askarov earned himself a second consecutive start after his 39 save performance on Saturday night. Askarov finished the night with 21 saves.

* Henry Thrun took a shot right off the visor early in the 3rd period. He walked to the locker room on hi own for repairs, but he was cut on the forehead. He would return later in the period.