Author: Matthew Harrington

Edmonton Oilers’ Milan Lucic (27) after getting into a big throw down with the San Sharks Michael Haley earlier in the game Lucic ends up scoring three goals here he celebrates after scoring against the San Jose Sharks during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 6, 2017, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Matthew Harrington

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The news that both Logan Couture and Joe Thornton will be ready for game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is welcome to the San Jose Sharks after taking a beating from Milan Lucic and the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers, a potential first-round opponent, topped the Sharks 4-2 thanks to a natural hattrick in the third period from Milan Lucic and 4 assists from Oscar Klefbom. Connor McDavid, the league’s leading point-getter, picked up a goal and assist for the victors, while Cam Talbot made 13 saves in net for Edmonton.

Joel Ward continued his hot streak, scoring in back-to-back games while Brent Burns scored his second goal in just 18 games. The Sharks power play went 0-for-4 while killing off just 3 of 5 penalties, allowing 32 shots from Edmonton. Martin Jones made 28 saves in net for San Jose.

While a slashing minor to David Desharnais had just wrapped up 6 minutes into period 1, Ward took advantage of the Oilers in the vulnerable minute. David Schlemko ripped a point shot that Ward, stationed on the mouth of the crease, redirected past Talbot for his 10^th goal of the year and second goal in as many games. The veteran winger was without a goal in his previous 10 games, drawing a healthy scratch to refocus his efforts.

After being stymied for most of the 1^st period, the Oilers increased their efforts down the stretch of the 1st and into the 2^nd by firing 21 shots on net after only owning 3 through the first 10 minutes of play. The Oilers’ biggest shot came 4:40 into the 2^nd when Connor McDavid netted his 30^th goal of the season (and league-leading 96^th point) to tie the game.

McDavid initiated a cycle on the blue line, passing the puck to Adam Larsson who was stationed in the middle of the blue line. From there, Larsson fed the puck to Oscar Klefbom on the opposite side of McDavid. Klefbom ripped the point shot that pin-balled off Tomas Hertl and Justin Braun, landing on the sure-fire MVP’s stick. With Jones down in position to make a save on the original shot, McDavid had the open net to knot the game up.

Despite struggling to generate much offense (10 shots through two periods) San Jose found itself up 2-1 after 40 minutes of play. Brent Burns netted his 29^th goal of the season with 7:30 left in the middle period. After Mikkel Boedker couldn’t win the face-off against Desharnais, Hertl swooped in to flick the puck to Burns on the point. Burns’ shot worked its way around the screens of a number of players to beat Talbot for a 2-1 lead.

While the Sharks power play failed to score on four attempts and Marcus Sorensen couldn’t cash in on a penalty shot chance early in the third, Edmonton’s power play tied the game 4:26 into the final period. The Sharks mental mistake, a too many men penalty, lead to Milan Lucic beating Jones just 6 seconds into the man-advantage. Oscar Klefbom picked up his second assist, while McDavid added to his league-best 67 assist total.

Lucic struck again 7:53 into the third for his 22^nd goal of the year, scoring it in quintessential Lucic fashion. Jones made a magnificent save on Klefbom streaking down the left wing aiming for the blocker side. While Jones made the save, his blocker shrug popped the puck back to Klefbom who was quickly approaching the goal line. Jones came out of his butterfly to reset his positioning, but in that time Klefbom snuck the puck between Jones’ skates parallel to the goal line. As he has many times before in his career, Lucic was waiting in the blue paint to tap the game-winning goal into the vacant net.

Lucic scored another rebound goal from the goal mouth, collecting the third-period hattrick on an Oilers power play with 3:29 left in regulation. Klefbom added his fourth assist of the night and Letestu picked up his first point of the night.

With the loss, the Sharks have all but guaranteed themselves the third spot in the Pacific Division. The Oilers have two more points than San Jose with two games left to play to San Jose’s one. The Sharks do hold the ROW advantage 43 to 41 though, making the Sharks regular season finale critical. If the Sharks were to beat the Calgary Flames Saturday night at SAP and Edmonton loses its final two games, the Sharks would earn home ice during the opening round of the playoffs.

San Jose Sharks center Chris Tierney (50) celebrates his goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 4, 2017, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE–Blink and you might have missed two-thirds of the San Jose Sharks goals Tuesday night at SAP Center. San Jose beat the visiting Vancouver Canucks 3-1, scoring twice in the opening 30 seconds for the win and a franchise record for fastest two goals.

Kevin Labanc, Joel Ward and Chris Tierney scored for San Jose, while Joonas Donskoi picked up a pair of assists. Martin Jones was stellar in net, making 33 saves in the Sharks’ first game without Joe Thornton. Thornton was injured in the Sharks last game, a win in Vancouver against the same Canucks.

Labanc opened the scoring 18 seconds in by beating Richard Bachmann in Vancouver’s net on a spin-around shot after Joe Pavelski tied up the puck on the faceoff. Ward added another goal just 12 seconds later, his 9^th of the year.

Vancouver pulled within a goal early in the third period after defenseman Christopher Tanev finally beat Jones for his 2^nd goal of the season 3:30 into the third. San Jose would answer back with another goal from a depth player, with Chris Tierney tipping a Brent Burns point shot for his 10^th goal of the year almost halfway through the third period.

By virtue of the Kings beating the Oilers Tuesday, the Sharks hopes for home ice in the opening round remain intact. The Sharks appear to be on a collision course with the Edmonton Oilers, the team tied with them in the standings with 97 points. The two teams meet Thursday night at SAP with a chance for one team or the other to create some distance.

San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton (19) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Tuesday, March 28, 2017, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Sharks clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs Tuesday night, but the outcome had little to do with San Jose snapping a six-game skid in a stirring 5-4 overtime win over the New York Rangers. No, thanks to luck around the league, the Sharks had already clinched their spot in postseason play, though sights remain set on winning the Pacific Division.

Brent Burns scored the game-winner in overtime, Chris Tierney had a pair of goals and Mikkel Boedker had two assists for the Sharks. Jannik Hansen scored his first goal in a Sharks jersey while New York’s JT Miller had a pair of goals for the Gothamites, another team that clinched a spot in postseason play Tuesday night. San Jose blew a 3-1 lead but scored with just over two minutes left in regulation to tie the game.

Hansen opened the game with a goal 1:44 into play, but the Rangers tied the game up after Miller intercepted a pass and beat Martin Jones with 6:30 left in the period. Special teams, a strong suit for the Sharks Tuesday, put the team ahead 2-1 after Melker Karlsson potted a short-handed goal with 1:59 left in the first.

Chris Tierney would pick up his first goal of the game, and 8^th of the season, after stepping in the lane and stealing a pass. He busted through the offensive zone, beating Henrik Lundquist with 8:22 left in the period. The Rangers answered back with a late power play goal, their first of two strikes in 3 opportunities after Derek Stepan fired a one-timer on a cross-ice pass from Mats Zuccarello with 22 seconds left in the period.

The Rangers would the game 1:24 into the third period with Jesper Fast tipping a Brady Skjei shot past Jones. They’d add the next goal on the man-advantage, with JT Miller scoring his 22^nd goal of the year 4:44 into the period. Tierney would answer back with his second of the game with 2:15 left in regulation on a scramble in the goal mouth.

With Nick Holden off for holding the stick in overtime, the Sharks made New York pay. Patrick Marleau fed Joe Pavelski the puck, allowing the Sharks captain to walk the blue line, setting up a Burns one-timer. With Burns just below the faceoff dot on Lundquist’s right, the surefire Norris Candidate ripped a game-winning rocket to snap the Sharks win woes.

San Jose gets the opportunity to face a team battling for the division lead Thursday night. San Jose travels to Edmonton to play the penultimate contest against Connor McDavid’s squad in the season series.

Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen (32) blocks a shot during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks in Dallas, Monday, March 20, 2017. The Stars won 1-0. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

By Matthew Harrington

Big-time D prevailed in Big D Monday night, with Kari Lehtonen shutting out the San Jose Sharks for 1-0 Stars win at home. Aaron Dell made 19 saves to kick off San Jose’s four game road trip, including two sets of back-to-back contests and another showdown in Dallas. Grinder Curtis McKenzie scored the lone goal of the game while Lehtonen turned aside all 30 San Jose shots.

The Sharks were forced to create a makeshift lineup with regulars Jannik Hansen, Melker Karlsson and Chris Tierney all out with injuries. Tomas Hertl skated on the top line in place of Hertl while call-ups Danny O’Regan and Timo Meier filled out the bottom six forwards. The San Jose Barracuda clinched a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs, allowing for mass call-ups to the parent club.

Both goalies were at the top of their games, stopping every puck the saw. It was a deflection that would beat the Sharks netminder on Dallas’ 12^th shot of the game in the second period. McKenzie parked himself just outside the crease, redirecting a shot from Adam Cracknell for his 5^th goal of the season. Juri Hudler also assisted on the strike with 5:06 left in the second.

San Jose stifled the Dallas offense but couldn’t convert on their own offense barrage in the third period. They fired 11 shots in the third, matching their second period total but Lehtonen would stand tall.

For the Sharks, its back to work against a team that’s having struggles of its own. Team Teal boarded a jet immediately after the game, flying to Minnesota to face the Wild Tuesday night. After that, the Sharks return to Dallas for a Friday night tilt before jetting over to Nashville for a Saturday night contest against the Predators.

St. Louis Blues’ Vladimir Tarasenko (91) scores an empty net goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks Thursday, March 16, 2017, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

By Matthew Harrington

SAN JOSE, Calif. — In a game that resembled a Stanley Cup playoff tilt, the St. Louis Blues topped the San Jose Sharks 4-1 at the SAP Center Thursday night. St. Louis received a pair of goals from Vladimir Tarasenko, while grinders Scott Upshall and Zach Sanford also scored for the Blue Notes. Marc-Edouard Vlasic netted the lone goal for the Sharks on a night when the much-needed power play went 0-for-2.

“The better team won tonight,” said Sharks coach Peter DeBoer. “That usually happens in this league.”

The Blues, looking for revenge after being eliminated in the Western Conference Final by San Jose last season, jumped on the early lead on a fluky goal by Upshall. Brent Burns passed the puck out of the Sharks defensive end, but his pass was intercepted by Upshall. With Martin trying to recover for his defensive partner, netminder Aaron Dell was screened on what would normally be a harmless shot inside the zone. Instead, the puck beat Dell for a 1-0 Blues lead and Upshall’s 8^th goal of the year with 3:`10 left in the first period.

“I thought we fought the puck a bit,” said Sharks goalie Aaron Dell. “We got some bad bounces. It didn’t go our way.”

Vlasic would get a San Jose bounce in the waning moments of the period though. He fired a shot that, upon first glance appeared to be tipped by Joel Ward between a defender’s skates. Ultimately the official scorers saw that the puck hit off the Blues defenseman before beating Carter Hutton for the San Jose goal 2:15 away from first intermission.

Sanford’s game-winning goal was another example of the bounces going against the Sharks in a tight affair. The forward was parked on the goal post on the opposite side of possession, but a Jay Bouwmeester shot went wide of the net and bounced off the end boards to Sanford. The gritty forward knocked in the puck for his 3^rd goal of the year 5:49 into the second period.

“When we got behind there was an opportunity there to push,” said DeBoer. “Traditionally, we find a desperation level despite where we are in the standings to win a game. We didn’t get that push tonight.”

Tarasenko’s first of two goals came on a similar play with St. Louis on the power play just over 8 minutes into the 3^rd. Tarensko was the beneficiary of a Alex Steen shot rebounding to the opposite post where the Russian sniper would get the tap-in goal for a 3-1 lead 8:34 into the third. The other Alex, Pietrangelo, also picked up an assist on the strike. Tarasenko would add the empty-net goal to put his season total at 34.

“That’s how the game went for us,” said Dell. “The third one went off (Justin) Braun . The bounce on the empty netter off Brent Burn’s foot, that’s the story of the game.”

The Blues mucked up the neutral zone, stifling any Sharks breakout attempts. They limited San Jose to only 20 shots on goal to St. Louis’ 36. The Blues also scored on their lone power play attempt.

San Jose welcomes Anaheim to town Saturday night for a rivalry tilt. It will likely be another playoff atmosphere with the Ducks in second place behind the Sharks for Pacific Division lead.

March 14, 2017: Buffalo Sabres left wing Evander Kane (9) puts San Jose Sharks defenseman Justin Braun (61) into the boards during the NHL hockey game between the Buffalo Sabres and the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center in San Jose, CA. The Sharks trail the Sabres 1-0 at the end of the first period. Damon Tarver/Cal Sport Media (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

By Matthew T.F. Harington

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Jack Eichel scored two goals, one for the Sabres and one for the Sharks, leading to San Jose’s 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Joe Pavelski scored twice for San Jose, Michael Haley netted the game-winner and Logan Couture netted an insurance goal in a contest the Sharks dominated. San Jose fired 42 shots on Robin Lehner to beat the eastern conference foes.

Eichel gave the Sabres the improbable lead 1:10 into the first period, scoring his 20^th goal to give the Sabres a 1-0 lead. Despite outshooting the Sabres 20-9, San Jose entered the locker room down 1-0 after 20 minutes.

The Sharks would however tie the game up The Sharks answered back on the power play 11:47 into the second with Joe Pavelski ripping a rocket from the slot for his 27^th goal of the year. Couture and Joe Thornton assisted on the power play strike.

Eichel’s gaffe would give the Sharks their only lead necessary on the night with 50 seconds left in the second period. After Michael Haley’s cycle behind the net, the Sabres star Eichel wound up with the puck. Instead of clearing the zone, Eichel tapped the puck into his own goal, giving Haley his second goal of the year and handing the Sharks a 2-1 lead.

The Sharks would continue to pepper Lehner with 42 shots through the course of the game. Despite only mustering fgive shots on net in a despserate thjird period the Sharks managed to score a pair of goals. Pavelski added his 28^th of the year 5:28 into the third, then Logan Couture scored his 24^th of the year with 4:03 left in regulation to hand the Sharks the 4-2 win. Couture (1 g, 1a), Pavelski (2 g) and Thornton (2 a) all had three point nights for San Jose.

The Sharks continue a home heavy month of March with a home tilt against the St. Louis Blues Thursday night. Then the rival Anaheim Ducks make a visit to SAP Saturday night.

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) crashes into San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones, rear, and defenseman Justin Braun (61) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, March 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

By Jerry Feitelberg

SAN JOSE–When the calendar flips to March for NHL, playoff-bound teams look to test their mettle against the best of the league’s bunch. Thursday night at the SAP Center, the San Jose Sharks passed the test with flying colors.  The Sharks beat the Eastern Conference leading Washington Capitals 4-2 on the of two power play goals and a strike just seconds after a four-minute man-advantage. Logan Couture scored a pair of goals, while the Joes Thornton and Pavelski added one apiece. Jannik Hansen picked up an assist in his debut with the Sharks and Brent Burns added a trio of helpers as well.

Former Shark Daniel Winnik opened the scoring after Jay Beagle’s seeing-eye backhanded pass from below the goal line connected with Winnik’s skate. Winnik pulled the puck to his stick, beating netminder Martin Jones for a 1-0 lead 5:26 into play.

Freshly minted with gifts to commemorate his 1,000^th career assist, Joe Thornton decided to instead score Thursday drawing the Sharks even 8:43 into the period. Hansen, playing in his first game in teal after Visa delays, fed Thornton with a perfect one-timer, allowing the future Hall-of-Famer to beat Braden Holtby for his 6^th goal of the season.

The Capitals opened the second period down a man after Brooks Orpik’s double-minor in the final 1:28 of the first period. While the Sharks power play, struggling at just 17.2 percent, didn’t capitalize on the opportunity, they did score immediately after. Pavelski picked up his 24^th goal of the season as Orpik’s minor expired in typical fashion, tipping a Brent Burns point shot past one of the front-runners for the Vezina Trophy winner in Holtby.

San Jose’s goal at 2:23 would give them a short lead before Brett Connolly would even the score late in the second period. Connolly played give-and-go with Washington’s trade deadline acquisition Kevin Shattenkirk, redirecting Shattenkirk’s shot pass for his 14^th goal of the season.

The Sharks would again find themselves on the power play in the closing moments of a period after Jay Beagle went to the sin bin for tripping 2:02 left in the second. The Sharks took advantage this time, scoring just six seconds into the power play. Burns would rip a wrister in the slot with the rebound bouncing back to the defenseman’s backhand. Couture, however was on Burn’s hip and picked up the loose puck ripping a shot over Holtby’s left shoulder for his 2^nd goal of the year and a 3-1 lead.

Couture struck again in the third, scoring on a perfect redirect on a shot-pass from Burns 8:05 into the period on the power play. Burns fired the puck right to Couture’s stick with the forward waiting on the far post for the easy deflection goal and his second of the game.

The Sharks won the special teams battle, going 2-for-5 on the power play while holding Alex Ovechkin and the Caps power play to an 0-for-5 night. They’ll look for the luck to continue in a rematch of last year’s conference semifinals when the Nashville Predators visit SAP for the Sharks second of six-straight home games.