By: Fernando Abarca
SAN JOSE, Calif. — A good win always feels better when needed the most. Will Smith scored twice in the third period, and Mason Marchment added the go-ahead goal as the San Jose Sharks rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on Thursday night at SAP Center.
The Sharks overcame a frustrating first two periods to score three unanswered goals in the final period, ending a two-game losing streak. Vancouver took control early, with Drew O’Connor opening the scoring at 13:21 in the first period after capitalizing on a San Jose defensive turnover. Elias Pettersson assisted on the goal.
The Canucks extended their advantage to 2-0 late in the second period when Liam Ohgren scored at 18:56, giving Vancouver momentum heading into the second intermission.
San Jose struggled to generate consistent offense in the first 40 minutes, and frustration was evident as 15,000 fans felt the desperation. The Sharks had also failed to capitalize on their first four power-play opportunities.
However, coach Ryan Warsofsky made adjustments as San Jose looked for a spark, and the team responded with a much stronger third period. For a reason, if it is not broken, do not fix it. It seems Warsofsky came to terms.
Smith started the comeback at 8:00, scoring on the power play with assists from Dmitry Orlov and Marchment to cut Vancouver’s lead to 2-1.
Just 2 minutes and 39 seconds later, Smith found the back of the net again at 10:39, tying the game 2-2. Macklin Celebrini recorded an assist on the equalizer, earning his 16th point of the season.
The Sharks completed the comeback only 11 seconds later. Marchment scored at 10:50 after a play involving Kiefer Sherwood and Nolan Allan, giving San Jose its first lead of the night at 3-2.
Goaltender Yaroslav Askarov played an important role in the victory, stopping 23 shots, including a crucial late save to preserve the Sharks’ advantage during the closing minutes of the 3rd.
Thursday’s matchup also marked the NHL debut of forward Filip Bystedt, who was recently recalled from the American Hockey League. The young center recorded two shots on goal in 10:28 of ice time as he began his NHL career.
Despite the defeat, Vancouver showed a more aggressive approach offensively, particularly during the opening two periods, taking advantage of San Jose’s defensive mistakes and creating scoring opportunities. However, the Canucks were unable to maintain their advantage during the final 20 minutes in a game where it seemed that it was going to be the same as Tuesday night vs. Anaheim.
The Sharks will look to build on Thursday’s comeback when they host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon at SAP Center. Also that afternoon, the Sharks will celebrate Tiburones Night.
