San Jose Sharks center Luke Kunin (11) celebrates a goal by center Logan Couture (39) against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York on Thu Oct 20, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Matthew Harrington

Erik Karlsson’s reaction said it all; arms stretched out in equal parts jubilation and relief. The San Jose Sharks have won their first game of the 2022-23 season, beating Eastern Conference juggernauts the New York Rangers 3-2 in overtime at Madison Square Garden Thursday night.

Karlsson scored the winner 49 seconds into overtime, Radim Simek scored his first goal since December of 2021 and Logan Couture picked up a power play strike in the win that came with added significance.

It marks Sharks Head Coach David Quinn’s first win in teal against the team that sacked him in May 2021 after 3 seasons. Mike Grier, taking the reigns from Doug Wilson as general manager in the offseason, also enjoyed his first win in command.

Karlsson’s OT goal came on a spirited effort that saw the former Norris winner tripped up driving to the net. While he went to the ice, he maintained control of the puck and fed the puck to Timo Meier. Meier took the puck behind the net, dishing to Karlsson in the slot for the winner.

San Jose was up 1-0 after the 1st period thanks to Couture’s power play goal 6:02 into the game (Karlsson assisted for a two point night), but New York scored twice in the first half of the 2nd period on goals from Filip Chytil and NHL points leader Artemi Panarin for a 2-1 lead.

Simek beat Igor Shesterkin with a wrister after trailing Matt Nieto into the slot with 6:50 to go before the second intermission. San Jose entered the 3rd trailing the Blueshirts 21-9 but pressed furiously to a 16-2 3rd period shot differential, but Shesterkin turned aside all shots as a reigning Vezina trophy winner is prone to do. James Reimer was stout in net for San Jose, turning aside 21 of the Rangers’ 23 shots.

The grueling East Coast swing wraps up for the Sharks with two matches in the Tri-State. They face the Devils Saturday before a Sunday showdown with the Flyers.