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Golden State Warriors Friday game wrap: Warriors’ home streak falls

Published on April 2, 2016April 2, 2016 by smallforceLeave a comment

~ PC: (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ If only it was an April Fool’s Day prank, but it was not, as Golden State’s streak fell at 54 to the Boston Celtics, Friday, 109-106.

The Celtics had ties to another one of the Warriors’ streaks. While last matchup, Boston was not directly tied to ending the streak of Golden State aiming to be the first to go 7-0 on the road, the Celtics did take the game the night before to double overtime.

The Warriors’ Stephen Curry finished with 29 points, all but one his shots from the field a three, five rebounds, six assists and nine turnovers. For Boston, Isaiah Thomas, Evan Turner and Jared Sullinger had 22, 21 and 20 points respectively. Sullinger had a double-double with 12 rebounds.

Golden State lost the turnover battle 14-22. The Celtics outscored the Warriors in the paint 48-30.

It was a tough first quarter for Curry. After a rebound, he committed four straight turnovers when he had the ball, five overall in the quarter. Curry did not have a point until a three with 4.3 seconds left in the quarter, to give Golden State the lead heading to the locker rooms.

The second did not have that much activity until the very end. With 2:14 left, Curry hit another three. There were two ties. Sullinger had four points and the Warriors’ Klay Thompson had three. Curry had an offensive foul turnover and the next possession, a backcourt turnover. Bradley gave Boston the 45-43 lead with a three after missing one earlier and Thompson tried a three with .4 seconds left. Golden State had a seven point lead during the quarter.

Curry came out firing with two consecutive threes in the third. They would be the first of six total in the quarter, as Curry went three crazy. He scored a total of 21 points in the quarter. When Curry made the first of three consecutive free throws with 2:19 left in the third quarter, that was his first non three pointer. Curry’s last three in the quarter would be the last time the Warriors led though.

The Celtics’ lead grew to 10 points by 8:41 left in the third quarter, thanks to an 11-4 run. Marcus Smart had five points and Golden State missed three straight. Draymond Green almost single handedly brought back Golden State to within three with 3:58 left. He had six straight out of eight points he made starting with 5:26 left. Harrison Barnes’ three made it 106-107 with 10.2 seconds left, but a layup by Thomas with 8.3 seconds left, sealed the deal. Curry and Barnes tried a three apiece after to no avail.

Game notes: The Warriors’ Andrew Bogut left the game early after taking a drive to the ribs. Golden State also lost their six game win streak. The Warriors play the Portland Trailblazers Sunday at 5pm.

San Jose Sharks Tuesday game wrap: Couture tricks Canucks in 4-1 win

Published on March 30, 2016March 30, 2016 by smallforceLeave a comment

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

AP photo: The San Jose Sharks Logan Couture (A) is congratulated for his third period goal by teammates from left Brent Burns, Couture, Joe Pavelski, Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton at Rogers Centre in Vancouver

~ Logan Couture got the game winner and earned his first hat trick, as San Jose beat Vancouver 4-1 Tuesday.

Couture varied each goal, scoring at even strength, on the power play and into an empty net. His first and last goal came at almost identical times in the second and third period.

It was the ninth straight loss for the Canucks.

The Sharks were back at it after clinching against the Kings just the night before. They picked up steam as the game went on, outshooting Vancouver 24-11 after the first period.

San Jose featured in the beginning and the end of the first period. Joonas Donskoi hit metal less than a minute into the period. The Sharks were lackluster in the middle part of the period and had spark at the end of the period. The Canucks outshot San Jose 13-6.

The Sharks had an even stronger showing to start and finish the second period.

Just 20 seconds in, Joe Pavelski scored, aided by Brent Burns and Joe Thornton.

Not too long after, at 2:01, San Jose was awarded a five minute penalty. Jake Virtanen was penalized with interference and a game misconduct. However, things went the opposite way. It started with a faceoff in the opposite end. Chris Higgins scored shorthanded as he faked a pass across during a 2-on-1 at 6:21. Roman Polak had to leave from Virtanen’s hit, but luckily was able to come back.

Couture broke the deadlock with 11 seconds left in the period. Nick Spaling got the assist. This marked the first lead after two during the season series.

The Sharks outshot Vancouver 12-5.

San Jose got another power play at 13:00 of the third period. It became a two man advantage when Markus Granlund was called for running into goalie James Reimer. This power play went the Sharks’ way as Couture scored at 14:01, helped by Pavelski and Patrick Marleau.

Couture’s empty netter came at 19:43, assisted by Burns and Dainius Zubrus.

Game notes: Spaling and Granlund returned to play. San Jose’s Joel Ward was out with a minor injury. The Sharks take a day off before hosting the Canucks again Thursday at 7:30pm.

San Jose Earthquakes Saturday game wrap: Chippiness costs Quakes

Published on March 19, 2016March 20, 2016 by smallforceLeave a comment

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

photo credit: Los Angeles Times–The San Jose Earthquakes Chris Wondolowski collides with LA Galaxy goaltender Brian Rowe during the first half on Saturday

LOS ANGELES~ San Jose lost their perfect start to their California Clasico rivals, the Los Angeles Galaxy, in a 3-1 rough and tumble match Saturday.

Gyasi Zardes had a brace, breaking through the draw off the game’s seventh yellow card, the Quakes’ Simon Dawkins was ejected in his first return road start, teammate Chris Wondolowski scored his third goal in as many games and Robbie Keane had a penalty kick goal.

In the first half, San Jose had their defense up with headers turning away shots, but their offense could not get close enough. The Galaxy outshot the Quakes 7-1.

Los Angeles had a hitch in their start when in the 3rd minute, Steven Gerrard had to leave with a left calf injury. Baggio Husidic came in for the substitution.

The first shot of the game came in the 9th minute when the Galaxy’s Mike Magee’s shot went wide right.

Wondolowski and Los Angeles goalie Brian Rowe had a head to head collision.

San Jose’s first shot was a high header by Quincy Amarikwa in the 15th minute.

The Galaxy got their second and third yellow cards a minute apart. Jelle Van Damme and Nigel de Jong were carded in the 21st and 22nd minute.

In the 29th minute, de Jong had his third shot of the game, a free kick from where he had a dangerous free kick earlier. It was saved by goalie David Bingham.

Andres Imperiale got the Quakes’ first yellow card in the 41st minute.

Things finally turned red when Dawkins was ejected in stoppage time.

In the second half, San Jose caught up a bit on the yellow card side. Los Angeles outshot the Quakes 10-5, with nine of those shots coming from inside the box.

After Victor Bernardez committed a foul, Magee’s first shot in the second hit his teammate, his second hit Anibal Godoy, who cleared the ball at the line in the 49th minute.

Magee had a fourth shot attempt in the 51st minute, and after it was saved, had a what does it take to score reaction.

Amarikwa had another shot, his second and the second for San Jose, in the 51st minute. Wondolowski and Rowe had another collision after Rowe caught the ball.

In the 55th minute, Imperiale had his first MLS shot amidst his MLS debut and first MLS start.

The Quakes’ Marvell Wynne received a yellow in the 56th minute, in about the same spot as Bernardez earlier. This one was costly, as off the free kick that same minute, Van Damme had a header, Wondolowksi missed the clearance in the box and Zardes kicked the ball past Bingham for the 1-0 lead. Magee also had an assist.

Zardes’ brace occurred in the 62nd minute in about the same spot, as he received a backwards pass from Husidic. It was a light touch by Zardes, but Bingham was too far out to get back in time.

Zardes went for the hat trick in the 72nd minute, but his shot went wide right.

Wynne got wide open, but his shot hit Daniel Steres, who got back in time. Wynne was then able to kick the ball to Wondolowski, who came in to help and surrounded by defenders, Wondolowski was able to spoil the Galaxy’s shutout in the 89th minute, to extend the Quakes’ streak with at least a goal to a MLS-longest 16 games. He also now has the most goals by any active player against Los Angeles, with seven.

It was then announced that there would be four minutes of stoppage time, so ostensibly San Jose had time to equalize.

However, Bernardez got Keane inside the box and in the 91st minute, Keane scored his fourth penalty kick goal against the Quakes, the most by any player against one team since the start of 2011 MLS, according to @OptaJack.

In the 92nd minute, Alan Gordon got the game’s last yellow card, as Matias Perez Garcia limped off the field.

Game notes: The only change in the Quakes’ lineup was Imperiale, who was questionable, playing for Clarence Goodson. San Jose suffered just their second loss in games started by Godoy (9-2-3). Sporting Kansas City, who plays Sunday March 20th, is now the only team with a perfect record. The Quakes next play D.C. United to start off April,l on the 2nd at 7:30pm

Sharks hand Oilers their first shutout since December 31st

Published on March 8, 2016 by smallforceLeave a comment

~ Photo credit: (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ After his fellow goalie nearly had a shutout, San Jose’s James Reimer decided he would go for it, blanking the Edmonton Oilers 3-0 Tuesday, in the Sharks’ final game at Rexall Place.

Reimer made a strong contribution with 31 saves, in just his second start for the team. It was his first win since February 13. He is now 5-0 against the Oilers.

It was the largest margin of victory between the teams so far in three games this season. The other two games were decided by a goal.

San Jose had a solid back-to-back game effort, with their second shutout in just under a month. They ended Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot’s four game win streak. It was the most goals he had given up since February 23. The Sharks also killed two power plays.

After two games without a point, Logan Couture scored two goals, each with a different pair of teammates.

Couture got the game winner early. It was the second straight goal the Sharks scored within the opening two minutes. This one came at 1:33. Couture shot at the net and alertly got his own rebound, as he was able to spot the loose puck before Talbot. Matt Nieto and Joonas Donskoi aided with the goal.

At 15:50, 10 seconds into the power play, Couture struck again, this time after moving into the left faceoff circle. Joe Pavelski started it from the left faceoff circle, passing back to Brent Burns at the point before Burns passed to Couture. Burns now has a five game point streak

San Jose also emerged from the first with a penalty free period.

Pavelski joined the party, with his second goal in as many games. He did so at 14:03 of the second. Thornton started the play from the boards and Pavelski tipped in Paul Martin’s shot.

Game notes: The Sharks are now 22-2-0 leading after one and 25-0-2 leading after two. They being a three game homestand Thursday, facing the New Jersey Devils at 7:30pm.

Jones burns out Flames

Published on March 8, 2016 by smallforceLeave a comment

~Photo credit: (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ The Calgary Flames burned strong against San Jose Sharks Monday, sending the game to overtime, but fell in the end, 2-1.

Sharks’ goalie Martin Jones had a career-high 47 saves, as he faced seven power plays. This performance came after a one-game hiatus. Before that, Jones had been in net for 10 straight games.

San Jose’s seven penalties equaled the amount they had last game against the Canucks on Saturday, but the difference was Jones.

In fact, the Sharks had more penalties by the end of the first against Calgary, then against Vancouver, but San Jose emerged with the lead as well.

Early goals ended up paying off for the Sharks in the game.

The first came at 1:56 of the game, as Brent Burns became the first defenseman in franchise history to have a four game goal streak. That was the first part of the Gordie Howe hat trick, which Burns got a day before his birthday.

During San Jose’s first penalty, Jones stopped Sean Monahan twice.

Jones was able to replicate his save success when the Sharks had two more penalties in the first period, causing a 5-on-3 for about 30 seconds.

The Flames’ Garnet Hathaway drew three of the first four penalties, and soon became involved in another one.

After drawing a hi sticking penalty from Burns, Hathaway got two minutes for instigating a fight and a 10 minute misconduct. Besides an additional fighting penalty for both, Burns got a double minor for drawing blood. This was the second part of the Gordie Howe hat trick for Burns.

8 seconds after Calgary’s fifth power play expired, Flames goalie Joni Ortio got his first save in just a little bit more than a period’s worth of time. Ortio emulated Jones to stop Nieto at 10:11 of the second.

Calgary peppered Jones with 18 shots in the period. In contrast, San Jose only tested Ortio four times.

The Flames did not let up on Jones at all, adding an additional 18 shots in the third. Their persistence paid off with a 6-on-4 power play goal by Joe Colborne and Mark Giordano at 18:38, to earn a point. The power play was created by the lightest of the penalties of the night, a delay of game call and with an extra attacker seconds before the goal.

Overtime then ended as quickly as it started. 19 seconds in, Joe Pavelski scored his sixth on the road and ninth this season, game winning goal, to lead the NHL, according to Bret Hedican. Surprisingly, according to Darin Stephens @SharksStats, it was Pavelski’s first career overtime goal in the regular season. Pavelski was aided by Burns and Joe Thornton, the finale of the Gordie Howe hat trick for Burns. San Jose is now 15-0-0 with such a player accomplishment, Stephens mentioned.

Game notes: Burns now has eight total points in four straight games. Dougie Hamilton led with a game-high and at least a season-high eight shots. The Sharks will play the second of back-to-back games against the Oilers, Tuesday at 6pm.

Curry’s 12th three wins game in less than a second

Published on February 27, 2016February 28, 2016 by smallforceLeave a comment

Photo credit: Sue Ogrocki AP Photo

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ As Oklahoma City Thunder’s Enes Kanter’s hands went down with 0.6 seconds left, it was a sign of the unbelievableness that is Golden State’s Stephen Curry, in a 121-118 win Saturday.

The left ankle that took Curry out in the third for five minutes was gone in the rearview mirror, as Curry broke his own NBA single season record for three’s, was the first with ten three’s back-to-back (tweet by Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle) and tied the NBA record for most three’s in a game. His double double stat included 46 points.

Another footnote was the Warriors’ guaranteed playoff spot during the fourth quarter after the San Antonio Spurs beat the Houston Rockets.

The Thunder’s Kevin Durant fouled out for the first time in three years with 4:13 left in overtime. He ended with a season-high seven three’s and a second straight double double, this one 37 points and 12 rebounds. Oklahoma City was +15 with Durant on the floor.

The Warriors trailed for most of the game, but perhaps the short times when they came close were a sign.

Oklahoma City got off to an 8-0 run to start, their biggest lead of the game reaching 14 points with 2:58 left in the first.

Golden State’s Andre Iguodala was their best player in the first. From the bench, he led with eight points, a perfect 4-of-4. Iguodala would also be the one to lead the game to overtime.

Three 3’s from Curry with teammate Marreese Speights in between, made it 41-42 with 4:25 left in the half. That only lasted 19 seconds.

Curry left the game at 10:29 in the third after an assist to Harrison Barnes. The pass was followed by a consecutive fall with the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook. Westbrook landed on Curry’s left ankle. Curry came back with 5:10 left and his first play was a steal off Westbrook.

The Warriors got to within one again with 3:35 left and tied the game with 2:27 left.

Curry’s seventh 3 pointer with 1:22 left to make it 78-77, gave Golden State their first lead.

Durant doubled his first half three point total with three in the third to lead his team that quarter. His fifth and sixth three at the end of the third gave him 30 points.

Curry and teammate Klay Thompson scored in the double digits, as Golden State scored 32 points.

The Warriors stalled a bit in the fourth, not scoring until 8:56 left.

Another three by Curry made it 92-96 with 2:53 left. Teammate Draymond Green made it 93-96 with a free throw.

With 1:37 left, a Curry three pulled Golden State to within two points.

Thompson then joined the three party with his first, as the Splash Brothers continued the clutch shots, this one with 35 seconds left. Durant hit a three with 14 seconds left, Thompson hit a two, then defensively, stole the ball from Durant as Green saved the ball. Iguodala was then fouled and hit two clutch free throws with 0.7 seconds left. Green defended Durant as he missed Oklahoma City’s last attempt in regulation. Green and Iguodala finished a +10 for the game.

In overtime, a steal by Green precipitated Curry’s 10th three. Curry’s 11th tied the game at 110 with 2:29 left. Thompson hit another three with 1:29 left. He finished with 32 points.

Game notes: The Thunder outrebounded Golden State by 30 and had 20 more paint points. Other double doubles in the game were earned by Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka, a season-high 20 rebounds and 15 points and Westbrook, 26 points and 13 assists. Green’s, 14 rebounds and 14 assists, had a little more to it. He tied a season-low in points with two and had a season-high six steals. Both teams were 3-0 in overtime before it started. The Warriors will be back at it, kicking off March against the Atlanta Hawks at 7:30pm

Sharks lose in shootout

Published on February 24, 2016February 25, 2016 by smallforceLeave a comment

Photo credit: David Zalubowski AP Photo

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ With San Jose and the Colorado Avalanche’s tightest battle of the series, one could say they went a mile long in the mile high city, as Colorado edged San Jose 4-3 Wednesday.

The teams went the distance, both having recent shootout wins.

The Sharks’ Martin Jones suffered his first shootout loss of the season as he faced a season-high 41 shots, making 38 saves.

Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon showed no sign of his recent malady as he looked to continue his recent success against San Jose. He scored the first shootout goal and had a season-high eight shots, four shots apiece in the first two periods, as he searched for his first point in six games.

The Avalanche continued a trend based on number of goals scored. They have won the last five games where they have scored at least three goals.

Newcomers from the Toronto Maple Leafs highlighted the first period, as former linemates scored a pair of goals.

First at 2:10, was one of San Jose’s newcomers, Nick Spaling, who lifted his team early from the faceoff circle. All for the Sharks, on his first shift, his first shot became his first goal.

After San Jose’s penalty expired at 6:35, Colorado challenged with a sequence of shots.

The Avalanche’s newcomer, Shawn Matthias, also scored his first goal on his first shot, as he emulated Spaling with a singlehanded goal at 13:02.

The Sharks outblocked Colorado 11-3 in the first period.

It continued to be a tight game in a scoreless second.

With 13:04 left in the second, the goal light went on, but was waved off as a false alarm.

San Jose was the first to regroup from the second and score. They got their second early in the period advantage, 1:50 into the third period. Brent Burns got the bounce off Erik Johnson’s skate. Tomas Hertl and Paul Martin aided on the play. Burns now has three points in as many games.

The 2-1 lead lasted until the Avalanche made the Sharks pay for a penalty. 22 seconds into San Jose’s second hooking penalty of the night, 38-year old Jarome Iginla scored the game’s first power play goal. Tyson Barrie and captain Gabriel Landeskog helped at 5:35 as Iginla created a five game point streak.

Landeskog got another point when he got his own rebound to give Colorado their first lead of the game. Andrew Bodnarchuk and Alex Tanguay assisted at 11:45

With 2:10 left in the game, Jones was pulled and the extra attacker eventually paid off. Burns’ shot was blocked, followed by a shot on goal by Ward. After a faceoff win, Patrick Marleau had a shot on goal and after the next faceoff win, the Sharks finally broke through backup goalie Calvin Pickard. With 1:31 left, Ward put together the game’s third tie and ensured San Jose had at least a point. He was aided by Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski.

It was the Sharks’ Joonas Donskoi and in the second round, the two captains for each team in the shootout, but none got on the board. Matt Duchene scored after, to make MacKinnon’s shot count.

Game notes: The other newcomer for the Sharks, Roman Polak had two shots and three hits. San Jose welcomed back Brenden Dillon who had a shot, a hit and two block. Pickard was filling in for ill regular Semyon Varlamov. The Sharks return home to host the Buffalo Sabres Friday at 7:30pm

San Jose Sharks Monday post game wrap up: Sharks all over Blues 6-3

Published on February 22, 2016February 23, 2016 by smallforceLeave a comment

Photo credit: Scott Kane AP Photo

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ San Jose went back to their goal scoring ways and ended Saint Louis’ longest win streak of the season, in a 6-3 win Monday.

After losing an 18-game streak of 2 goals or more Saturday, the Sharks scored six goals for the second time in less than a month and for the first time in February. Each goal scorer for San Jose scored a pair of goals.

Meanwhile, for the Blues, it was injury upon injury. Playing their first full game without a key player, Alexander Steen, hot backup goalie Brian Elliott was also injured in the first and did not return to the game. Saint Louis was unable to tie the Chicago Blackhawks atop the Central Division with the loss.

San Jose did not go injury free either. Matt Tennyson was knocked unconscious before Elliott, after a hit by Ryan Reaves. Tennyson was playing in only his sixth game with the team since December 8. He did not return to the game either, but afterwards, it was reported as likely a concussion and Tennyson will be traveling en route to the Sharks’ road trip finale.

With the win, San Jose is tied for most road wins with the Washington Capitals. most since November 12

The 17-7 shot margin in the first period was indicative of the way the scoring went.

The Sharks got off to a lead for the first time this road trip, when Tomas Hertl scored at 4:44, aided by his top linemates Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski.

The hit by Reaves at 8:37 gave San Jose a long power play, as Reaves was given a five minute major for boarding and a game misconduct as he left the game. Hertl made Tennyson’s exit sting a little less when he scored his second goal during that penalty, with a different pair of teammates, Joonas Donskoi and Marc-Edouard Vlasic.

Logan Couture also capitalized on the long power play when he scored in the identical spot as Hertl, a 5-on-3 goal. Joe Thornton and Brent Burns helped at 12:59.

After Couture’s 3-0 goal, goalie Jake Allen, who was just activated from injured reserve yesterday, ended up going into net. It mostly seemed though it was because of Elliott’s injury.

Saint Louis managed to get a goal at 17:36. Captain David Backes scored, assisted by Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko.

The teams took a little break from scoring until the Blues got to within one in the second. The power play went from the Sharks to Saint Louis when San Jose’s penalty cut it short. Tarasenko scored the Blues’ second power play goal of the night, aided by Kevin Shattenkirk and Jori Lehtera at 11:25.

20 seconds later, Couture and the Sharks did not lose their momentum, as Couture scored his second of the night, helped by Melker Karlsson and Vlasic.

Thornton singlehandedly scored San Jose’s fifth goal at 7:26 of the third. Teammate Patrick Marleau had hit the post during the second.

Jay Bouwmeester got the third period goal for St. Louis at 9:50, assisted by Tarasenko and Lehtera. Sharks’ coach Peter DeBoer challenged the score as goalie interference, but it remained 5-3.

Thornton then capped off the game, bringing it back to a three goal lead, with a no look empty netter. It was his first four point game in over two years, as mentioned by Darin Stephens.

Game notes: Couture had a game high eight shots. San Jose’s General Manager Doug Wilson announced before the game that Raffi Torres left, along with 2017 and 2018 second round selections, for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Nick Spaling and Roman Polak. The Sharks will look to make it a 4-1 road trip when they face the Colorado Avalanche Wednesday at 7pm.

Jones aids Sharks in resilient win

Published on February 18, 2016February 19, 2016 by smallforceLeave a comment

Photo credit: Alan Diaz AP Photo

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ Both San Jose and the Florida Panthers were resilient, but goalie Martin Jones made the saves down the stretch to keep his team in the game for a 2-1 win.

The game was tight, as evidenced by the decreasing shots in goal as the game wore on, especially starting in the second. However, the pressure remained intense.

It was the Sharks’ second straight comeback win away from home, as the road warriors played to the shootout a week after their last one. It was Florida’s second shootout in a row.

San Jose moved to 3-2 in the shootout, while overcoming the Panthers’ dominance there, now 6-2. Florida were without their top two in the shootout.

The Sharks’ Tommy Wingels left early in the first, as he hit the boards after a check gone wrong. Wingels, who never returned to the game, played just 1:54.

San Jose had three power plays in the second, but the way the first two went, it looked like it was the Panthers’ power play..

Despite that, Florida only had two shots on goal.

The Panthers’ Jaromir Jagr, the newly turned 44 year old, broke the deadlock 2:23 into the third period. Reilly Smith, from the opposite end faceoff circle, passed it to Vincent Trocheck at the blue line, who used good movement to get to the faceoff circle in the Sharks’ end. Tomas Hertl then blocked Trocheck’s puck with his stick and the rebound went to Jagr, who put the puck in five hole.

At 8:56, a new line change paid dividends. The Sharks’ Joe Pavelski got the puck to Joe Thornton behind the net, who went around and passed the puck up front to Logan Couture, who hit top shelf. Thornton now has a seven game point streak, as Couture got his third goal in six games. That was San Jose’s only shot on goal in the period.

Jones made a face-to-face stop against Trochek and also stopped him in overtime.

The Sharks’ Marc-Edouard Vlasic had a shot that went off the goalpost in overtime.

Hertl got the puck off a turnover and may have scored, if not for a slashing call that perhaps could have gone either way. San Jose got the 4-on-3 power play at 3:32, but could not break through.

With both goalies having clean shootout records at 2-0, one had to give.

The Sharks were a perfect 2 for 2. Both Joonas Donskoi and Pavelski went for different approaches, Donskoi with speed and Pavelski with more of a wait and see, against goalie Al Montoya. It was Pavelski’s second goal in as many games and his second game winner in less than a month.

Game notes: San Jose has now scored at least two goals in 18 straight games. They were outhit 31-18, Florida’s Dmitri Kulikov with six, and out-blocked 16-8. The Sharks had less giveaways, 8-20. San Jose will have to endure more resilience with the second of back-to-back games, if Wingels is absent. That game starts at 4pm on Friday.

Sharks avoid Lightning

Published on February 16, 2016February 16, 2016 by smallforceLeave a comment

Photo credit: Mike Carlson AP Photo

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ After San Jose lost versus Tampa Bay last time, the Sharks returned the favor in a 4-2 win Tuesday.

It was all even strength goals this time around as San Jose evened the season series.

The Sharks kicked off their longest road trip of February with a second straight road win. This allowed them to gain ground on at least the Los Angeles Kings.

According to Darin Stephens, San Jose goalie Martin Jones when facing 30+ shots, is now 12-0-2 this season.

The only action of the first period came at 17:51. Lightning Andrej Sustr started the play from the other side and passed the puck to Alex Killorn, who was at the blue line. Killorn then found an open Ryan Callahan.

Things got a lot more active on the ice in the second.

Joel Ward tied the game through traffic 1:43 into the second period. The play started similarly to Tampa’s, as the puck moved quickly from Marc-Edouard Vlasic in the defensive zone, to Matt Nieto in the neutral zone before hitting Ward inside the blue line. Vlasic’s career high now reaches eight straight in points and assists.

The Sharks’ top line then made a 2-1 cash in at 6:34. Joe Pavelski actually started the play by getting the puck along the boards to Tomas Hertl. Hertl then sent the puck back that way past Pavelski to Joe Thornton, as Pavelski moved in front of net. With the attention on Thornton, he made the scoring pass as Pavelski slapped the puck past goalie Bishop. It was Pavelski’s first goal in February.

The Lightning re-tied the game at 8:46. J.T. Brown got the puck along the boards and passed to Cedric Paquette. As he did so, the puck hit Vlasic’s stick, Paquette created space from defender Justin Braun and scored through traffic from the faceoff circle.

The game winner 1:17 into the third was a different type of goal. Ward started it with a shot against the boards and in a speedy 2-on-1, Marleau passed to Nieto cross ice, who snuck the puck in between Bishop’s skate and the goal post. It was Nieto’s first multipoint game since October 13.

Tampa Bay had three penalties in the period, including a misconduct at the time San Jose scored their final goal.

Showing they were not content with the lead, the fourth and first line combined to score at 18:17. Thornton along the boards passed behind to Melker Karlsson, who scored for the first time in February too.

Game notes: Thornton now has a six game point streak. Burns had nine shots on goal. Lightning Braydon Coburn had five hits. The Sharks next play the Florida Panthers Thursday at 4:30pm.