Category: NHL

Sharks Win 2-1, Pavelski Scores 300

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Photo credit: San Jose Sharks

by M. Walsh

San Jose Sharks captain Joe Pavelski scored his 300th career NHL goal Friday, in a 2-1 win over the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center. Goaltender Aaron Dell won his second in a row with 39 saves, and Chris Tierney scored his seventh of the year with the game winner. For the Panthers, Colton Sceviour scored the only goal in the first period, and goaltender Roberto Luongo made 30 saves on 32 shots in a losing effort for Florida.

Joe Pavelski’s goal was his first since November 1st, after an eleven game dry spell. That 300th tally proved elusive for the Sharks captain. Of the milestone, Pavelksi said: “Guess I’m proud of that number, a lot of hard work. But we’ve seen so many great milestones recently, last year too, with Patty and Jumbo. It’s one of those things, it’s a good number but I believe there’s, you know, so much more hockey out there and I’ll keep trying to score some goals.”

Pavelski’s goal was challenged by Florida coach Bob Boughner, the first challenge that went the Sharks way for the first time in a while. The second Sharks goal was also subjected to review, after being called no goal on the ice. Ironically, the last time the Sharks played the Panthers, on November 16 at SAP Center, the Sharks had two goals called back on review, and they lost that game 2-0. It may be that the Sharks’ streak of bad luck with goal reviews has ended.

Of finally having a challenge go their way, Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer said: “Well, yeah, first one of this year, at least it feels like it. You know, I think, we felt it was a goal, so glad to get it. We’ve had enough of those go the other way, and it’s cost us some points. So it all evens out.”

The Sharks went into the game without Joonas Donskoi, injured in Monday’s game in Philadelphia. Donskoi joined the list of injured players that currently includes forwards Tim Heed and Barclay Goodrow, and defenseman veteran Paul Martin. Melker Karlsson was back in the lineup after missing time due to injury, and he left Friday’s game during the third period. Goaltender Martin Jones was dressed as the backup after missing Monday’s game, indicating that he may be ready to play Saturday.

Of the team’s spate of injuries, DeBoer said: “We’re asking other guys to jump in. You know, Tierns makes a play, the big guys are scoring some goals for us lately, Jumbo and Pav, you know Couture’s line’s been good all year. Every injury, every guy that goes down, obviously it’s testing your depth and we don’t have a lot of margin of error. There are a lot of two-on-one games, but we’re getting comfortable in those games so that’s a good thing.”

The Sharks started the game a little slowly, but picked up the pace by the middle of the first period. Nevertheless, they still gave up the first goal in the final two minutes of the period. Dell made the first save, but juggled the puck when it came back on the rebound. The goal initially was given to Panthers captain Derek MacKenzie, but would up being Colton Sceviour’s. Assists went to Alex Petrovic and Micheal Haley.

Joe Pavelski’s tying goal came 11:20 into the second period. Joe Thornton’s pass from behind the net went off of Florida’s Aleksander Barkov and reversed direction. It went right to Pavelski, where he was set up at the corner of the net. As he gained control of the puck, his skate made contact with Luongo’s skate, which was the basis of the coach’s challenge. Luongo was looking in the other direction, which makes sense since Thornton had passed the puck in that direction. Assists on the goal went to Thornton and Timo Meier.

The game winner came 7:13 into the third period. Melker Karlsson’s backhand shot went off of Luongo and to Chris Tierney below the goal line. Tierney shot it back in, bouncing it off of Luongo’s back and into the net. The goal was initially not called as such, but after video review, the NHL made the correction. Assists went to Karlsson and Brent Burns. It was Tierney’s third goal in his last four games.

The Sharks did not get a chance on the power play, but their penalty kill went 2-0 in the game.  Marc-Edouard Vlasic led the team in shots on goal with four.

The Sharks next play on Saturday, against the Tampa Bay Lightning at 4 pm PT.

San Jose Sharks Podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Despite injuries Sharks getting things turned around with two straight wins

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San Jose Sharks’ Joonas Donskoi in action during an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

On Sharks Podcast with Mary Lisa:

1 The Sharks are turning things around with their second straight win past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 on Tuesday night after getting a 4-0 shutout over the Winnipeg Jets

2 Scores came from Joe Thornton, Chris Tierney, and Marc Edouard Vlasic and the defense held off their hosts to only one goal

3 Logan Couture has been a huge asset for the Sharks offense with two goals on Saturday and two assists against the Flyers on Tuesday which has helped in San Jose’s two straight wins

4 Thornton said you always want to get that first win to open a four game road trip the Sharks head to Florida and Tampa Bay on Fridays and Saturday and then on Washington on Monday night.

5 The Flyers are going poorly with now their ninth straight loss and that’s facing a Sharks team that has four players injured that includes Tim Heed, Troy Grosenick from the AHL Barracuda who is not available, Joe Pavelski is playing but with an injury, goaltender Marty Jones is day to day, and Joonas Donskoi got hurt during the game in Philadelphia

Mary Lisa does the Sharks podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Sharks keep Flyers grounded 3-1

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~ (Photo: Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ Though Philadelphia scored an early goal, that is all San Jose allowed in a 3-1 win Tuesday in the City of Brotherly Love.

The Flyers’ losing streak grew to nine games as they outhit the Sharks 34-12.

Logan Couture had two assists as he, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Joe Thornton continued points streaks and Justin Braun continued an assist streak.

Aaron Dell was solid in net, as he made 22 saves.

Philadelphia got started early. Jakub Voracek got Dell looking as he shot from the left faceoff circle to Claude Giroux outside the right faceoff circle along the goal line. Giroux now has a five game point streak.

Chris Tierney made a windup shot to even the score at 10:29, aided by Brent Burns and Brenden Dillon.

Trouble began when San Jose got a power play at 16:51. The 5 on 4 then became 5 on 3 when the puck left the ice at 17:32 due to Michael Raffl. Thornton capitalized at 18:42, helped by Couture and Joe Pavelski as the Sharks scored a power play goal for the third game in a row.

The Flyers also incurred another penalty 12 seconds after Raffl’s penalty expired.

Vlasic topped the scoring off at 16:04 of the second period as the puck found its way to the net from near the blue line. Couture and Braun assisted.

Game notes: Braun’s four game point streak is a career-high (Darin Stephens). Sharks’ opponents are now 0-5 in their power play attempts. San Jose’s Melker Karlsson returned for the first time since November 18 and had two hits and one block amidst 11:20 of ice time. The Sharks took 34 shots for the second game in a row. San Jose’s four game road  trip continues on the first day of December, Friday at 4:30pm.

NHL Podcast with Daniel Dullum: Knights keep it going with two big Pac Division wins; Gionta options to go to the Olympics; Houston vying for an NHL team

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Vegas Golden Knights left wing Erik Haula (56) redirects the puck in front of Arizona Coyotes goalie Scott Wedgewood (31) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. The Golden Knights defeated the Coyotes 4-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

On the NHL Podcast with Daniel:

1 Golden Knights keep on rolling with wins over Sharks, Coyotes

2 NHL’s ‘Thanksgiving Rule’ – who’s headed for the playoffs and who isn’t

3 Brian Gionta swaps NHL for shot at the Olympics

4 NHL caps centennial with documentary lauding its greats

5 New NBA Rockets owner wants NHL in Houston

Daniel Dullum does the NHL Podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Categories NHL

Sharks Score 4, Shut Out Jets 4-0

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San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones deflects a shot by the Winnipeg Jets during the third period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. The Sharks won 4-0. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

by M. Walsh

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Sharks scored four times and shut out the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday. Goals came from Tim Heed, Tomas Hertl, and two from Logan Couture. Sharks goaltender Martin Jones made 38 stops for the shutout. At the other end, Jets goaltenders faced a combined 33 shots and each allowed two goals.

Despite giving up 38 shots, the Sharks defense got the job done. Winnipeg has one of the best records in the NHL this season, 14-5-3 going into the game against the Sharks. After the game, Sharks assistant coach Steve Spott said: “To hold them off the scoreboard…they’ve got a high powered offense over there, so to do what we did tonight, it was excellent.”

The Sharks saw yet another uncounted goal in the first period of Saturday’s game. Just 3:37 in, Joel Ward found the puck under Steve Mason’s left pad and poked it in the net. The whistle blew before the puck went in, as the official had lost sight of the puck.

Perhaps used to such setbacks by now, San Jose responded with two viable first period goals. The first was a power play goal from Tim Heed with assists to Kevin Labanc and Joe Thornton. Heed’s one-timer came from high in the slot and went in off the post. The second goal came at 19:44 of the first, from Logan Couture. Assists on the second goal went to Justin Braun and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Mason stopped Vlasic’s shot but the rebound went to the far side of the blue paint, where Couture closed fast and beat the goalie to the puck.

At the end of the first period, the shots were 13-9 for the Sharks.

The Jets changed goaltenders to start the second period, putting Connor Hellebuyck in for Steve Mason. Mason evidently sustained an upper body injury.

Winnipeg closed the shot gap in the first five minutes, to 16-15, but the Sharks gunked up the Jets offense so that those shots were not terribly dangerous. At the 6:05, Dylan DeMelo went to the box for slashing Joel Armia and the Jets were on their first power play of the game. The Sharks penalty kill was stifling and only allowed one shot on goal to the power play.

The Sharks had to face another slashing penalty at 9:56, this time on Brenden Dillon. The Sharks held the Jets to just one shot again, only this shot was a harrowing affair. The puck slipped past Martin Jones and and was snatched back from the brink by Joel Ward’s quick stick.

Dylan DeMelo went back to the box at 13:02, this time for interference. Instead of clogging up their own zone during this penalty kill, the Sharks jumped out with a short handed rush from Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl. Couture carried the puck in with Hertl on his right, and no Winnipeg player between them and the goalie. Couture took his time selecting the shot and added a third tally to San Jose’s collection. Assists went to Tomas Hertl and Marc-Edouard Vlasic.

The second period shot count was 16-5 Winnipeg, for a total shot count of 24-18 Winnipeg.

At 5:08 of the third, Dylan DeMelo was the subject of another penalty, taking a high stick from Joel Armia. The Sharks power play did a pretty good job keeping the puck out of their own end, but could not get organized in the Jets’ end of the ice. They did get credit for two shots.

By the midpoint of the period, the Sharks had closed the gap in shots, adding eleven to their count, while limiting the Jets to just four.

The Sharks had a bit of a scare at 13:28 when Martin Jones had to take a moment to talk to one of the trainers. After the game, the team would only say that he was being evaluated.

Tomas Hertl extended the lead to four with an empty net goal at 16:50, with assists from Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns.

The Sharks will begin a four game road trip on Tuesday in Philadelphia at 4:00 pm PT.

Sharks Lose to Golden Knights 5-4 in OT

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Vegas Golden Knights center Jonathan Marchessault (81) celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against the San Jose Sharks during overtime of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 24, 2017, in Las Vegas. Vegas won 5-4. (AP Photo/John Locher)

by M. Walsh

The San Jose Sharks lost 5-4 in overtime to the Las Vegas Golden Knights Friday. After trailing 3-1, the Sharks came back to tie the game, with goals from Mikkel Boedker, Chris Tierney, Tomas Hertl and Brent Burns. The five Las Vegas goals came from Shea Theodore, James Neal, two from William Karlsson, and the overtime winner from Jonathan Marchessault. With the win, the Knights added to their already astonishing first season record of 14-6-1.

Neither team was at their best defensively, which made for a wide-open game. Both teams changed goalies at some point in the game. After the game, Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer said:

It was a track meet, it was pond hockey out there. The offense came, I think, because it was loose. We don’t want to play that type of game. We had to, we were forced to because of how we started and found a way to get a point out of it. That’s about all the good that came out of it.

Of coming back from a 3-1 deficit, Sharks forward Logan Couture said: “Yes, I guess pretty good but not good enough. We put ourselves in that hole. I thought they were better than us. We had some jump for a small period of time and that was it.”

The Knights jumped out to a fast start, scoring twice in the first period. Shea Theodore’s goal came just 2:33 in, with assists to Cody Eakin and Brendan Leipsic. The second goal came in the middle of the period, on a power play. James Neal’s goal came after a lot of movement from the power play, with several cross ice passes that drew Sharks goalie Martin Jones across the goal mouth more than once. When the shot came, it was over Jones’ shoulder just under the bar. Assists went to Erik Haula and Jonathan Marchessault.

Tomas Hertl scored late in the first off an impressive feed from Joonas Donskoi. Donskoi first jumped to catch the puck out of the air, then had to recover after being knocked down by Knights goalie Maxime Lagace. His quick reverse pass still connected with Hertl in front of the net. Assists went to Donskoi and Marc-Edouard Vlasic.

William Karlsson scored twice in the second period, the first only ten seconds in. Still on a carry over the power play from the first period, the Knights pushed the play into the Sharks’ zone in a somewhat chaotic scramble. A bouncing puck found its way to Alex Tuch below the face-off dot. His shot bounced some more as it crossed the goal mouth to Karlsson, who knocked it in. A second assist went to Reilly Smith.

The Sharks replaced goalie Martin Jones with Aaron Dell at that point, only to see Karlsson score again at 6:55, when he tipped a Marchessault shot from the blue line.

Of the goaltending change, DeBoer said: “It’s too bad we didn’t start on time. That’s the disappointing part. It didn’t help Jonesy at all and I got him out of there just because I didn’t want him to have to play a whole night in front of that.”

Just a little over a minute later, Brent Burns scored his first of the year with one of his trademark blasts from the blue line. The lone assist went to Joe Thornton.

Chris Tierney scored his fifth of the season not long after the Sharks’ first power play of the game. The Knights had just iced the puck and the Sharks gained control after the faceoff. Joel Ward won a puck battle in the corner, allowing Tierney to send the puck up to the blue line. Justin Braun took a wide shot and Tierney got to the net in time to redirect it in. Assists went to Braun and Ward.

The tying goal came with less than a minute left. Joe Pavelski’s shot got caught in traffic but bounced out to the slot where Mikkel Boedker caught it and shot it in before Lagace could get set to stop it.

The Golden Knights changed goaltenders in the third period, replacing Lagace with Malcolm Subban. There were no goals scored in the third, but late in the period, Logan Couture had a goal called back. The explanation given was that Joonas Donskoi touched skates with goaltender Malcolm Subban in the crease.

Marchessault scored the overtime winner 1:22 into overtime. Brent Burns had just broken a stick and gone to replace it. The remaining players held off the goal for several seconds before Marchessault’s shot went into defensive traffic and off of Joe Thornton’s skate into the goal.

The Sharks next play on Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets, in San Jose at 7 pm PT.

Sharks snap Coyotes’ three-game winning streak with 3-1 win

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Photo credit: San Jose Sharks

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Wednesday, November 22, 2017

GLENDALE, Ariz. – It wasn’t that long ago that the San Jose Sharks could have easily looked past their NHL Pacific Division game Wednesday against the Arizona Coyotes, a team that has struggled for most of the season.

The Coyotes were trying to win a fourth consecutive game for the first time since January 4 to 12 of last year. Arizona had a three-game winning streak at the end of their recent Canadian road trip against the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs.

A key penalty kill followed by Joe Thornton’s third goal of the season set the tone for the Sharks in their 3-1 victory before 11,214 fans at Gila River Arena.

Joe Pavelski and Joel Ward also tallied for San Jose, while goaltender Martin Jones turned away 26 of 27 shots. The Sharks took 25 shots.

The Sharks’ win snapped a three-game winless streak for San Jose (11-8-1, 23 points). It was San Jose’s first victory since Nov. 12 at Los Angeles.

“We got enough offense to win. That’s all that matters,” Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. “On the road in a tough environment, (the Coyotes) are playing well, and I thought we played a good road game.”

Jones noted the importance of scoring first, adding, “I think we defended really well. We had a lot of jump in the first period, I thought, but we stuck with good structure against a team that’s always tough to play against, and we kind of wore them down.”

“We played a real tight team game,” Thornton said. “(The Coyotes have been playing real good with three wins in a row, so to come in here, kill off some big penalties early, that was a huge thing for us.”

At 10:49 of the first period, San Jose’s Logan Couture was called for interference, and at 12:10, Brent Burns joined him in the box after a slashing call, giving Arizona a two-man advantage for 39 seconds.

DeBoer said, “That was a tough one to kill. Any time there’s a marginal penalty it seems like you end up 5-on-3 and that’s what usually happens. We found a way, and our PK has been solid all year. We have confidence with it with Jonesey back there.”

“The three guys that were out there did a great job of not giving them anything,” Couture said. “(The Coyotes) didn’t get a great look; a great job by our killers.”

“That was huge,” Thornton said. “A 5-on-3 early on, then a 5-on-4, it was a big step up for our penalty killers and that could have won us the game.”

The Coyotes (5-16-3, 13 points) were held to one shot on goal during the 5-on-3. After killing the remaining Arizona power play, Joe Pavelski won a draw to the left of Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta, Burns took the pass in the slot, his shot deflected off Timo Meier and Thornton poked in the rebound.

“I’m starting to feel better,” Thornton said. “I was banged up for a little while, so I’m starting to feel better. My legs feel stronger, and it’s nice to get healthy.”

Thornton credited the addition of Meier, along with Pavelski, as a key to the Sharks’ first-line success.

“Timo brought a lot of energy, a lot of chances, and me and Pav really like playing with him right now,” Thornton said.

“That was a big goal at the right time,” DeBoer said. “We’ve been waiting for those guys to get on the board. It hasn’t been for lack of effort, but it’s nice to get the big guys scoring.”

Raanta suffered an upper-body injury after colliding with Couture and departed moments before Thornton’s goal, and was replaced by Scott Wedgewood after making nine saves. Wedgewood stopped 15 of 17 shots in relief.

San Jose made it 2-0 at 4:56 of the second period on Couture’s 11th goal of the season, and his first in five games. Couture took a pass from Joonas Donskoi, maneuvered past the Coyote defense with the forehand, then beat the sprawling Wedgewood with a backhand shot from a left angle.

“It’s tough to win in this league when you score only two,” Couture said. “It helped to hold (Arizona) off early. They’ve got some good, young players and they’re learning how to win. They’re a tough team to play against.’

Arizona cut its deficit to 2-1 on Brendan Perlini’s sixth goal of the season. Oliver Ekman-Larsson intercepted a Sharks clearing pass at the blue line, passed to Derek Stepan, whose shot in the left slot was redirected by Perlini past Jones’ stick side.

After Wedgewood was pulled for a sixth attacker, Joel Ward scored an unassisted empty-net goal at 19:12 of the third period.

The Sharks road trip continues with a visit to the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday before returning to SAP Center to host Winnipeg on Saturday.

San Jose Sharks Podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Sharks open two game road trip in Arizona tonight need to get it in gear after 3 game skid

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A shot from Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry (10) gets behind San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) during the second period of the regular season game between the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks held November 20, 2017 at the SAP Center in San Jose, CA. Final score: Ducks-3, Sharks -2 in a Shootout. (Photo by Allan Hamilton/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

On the Podcast with Mary Lisa:

With the upcoming two game road trip the San Jose Sharks after losing three straight at home need to get it in gear. These last couple games have been a little bit of a struggle it’s not the most disappointing games in their history but none the less disappointing that they lost three in a row at home on this homestand. Arizona and Vegas very different quantities and qualities.

The Coyotes are struggling in the cellar in the NHL Pacific Division 5-15-3 but the second place Vegas Knights 12-6-1 are just crazy good nobody saw that coming. They got to get there in the Southwest and pick up a couple of wins. With the Knights a brand new franchise and expansion team they just very well might get in the post season and do what no other first year expansion team has ever done and possibly get into the Stanley Cup.

Mary Lisa Walsh does the SJ Sharks podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

San Jose Sharks Podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks on three game skid hope to end it on current trip

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Anaheim Ducks goalie Reto Berra (1), from Switzerland, celebrates with teammates after the Ducks beat the San Jose Sharks in an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Monday, Nov. 20, 2017. The Ducks won 3-2 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

By Len Shapiro

The San Jose Sharks currently on a three game skid took a loss the hard way on Monday night at SAP Arena in a one goal 3-2 shootout loss. The Anaheim Ducks who came calling had got a nine round shootout win with a center Antoine Vermette game winning goal. The Ducks played their tenth straight one goal game it was nine rounds before Vermette got the game winner.

Also believe it or not that was the Ducks goalie Reto Berra’s first NHL win in two years so he made up for a lot loss time. The Sharks tried to end the game in regulation they outshot the Ducks in third period and just couldn’t put away the winner and prevent the Ducks from forcing overtime. The Sharks are now 6-6 at home and they’ve got some road games coming up with Arizona on Wednesday and Las Vegas on Friday.

Len Shapiro does San Jose Sharks podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Sharks Rally on Donskoi’s Pair But Fall to Ducks in Shootout 3-2

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

Anaheim Ducks center Antoine Vermette (50) scores a goal past San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) during a shootout in an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Monday, Nov. 20, 2017. The Ducks won 3-2. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

By Matthew Harrington

SAN  JOSE–The San Jose Sharks woes continue at home after Team Teal fell to their Southern California rivals the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 Monday night. Joonas Donskoi scored a pair of goals but former Hart Trophy Winner Corey Perry and Rickard Rackell scored for Anaheim. Anaheim led 2-1 heading into the third but San Jose rallied back before watching Antoine Vermette scored in the ninth round of the shootout for a Ducks victory.

The Sharks have now lost three-straight games at home against struggling opponents, losing to the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins last week. The Ducks meanwhile have won three-straight after beating the Sharks in the second contest decided by the skills competition. The Sharks won the previous meeting on a Donskoi dazzler in the shootout in their only other overtime contest of the season.

One positive for the Sharks has been the reemergence of Joonas Donskoi this season. The Finnish winger matched his sophomore season goal total after beating Reto Berra 3:31 into the game. Logan Couture picked up the assist on Donskoi’s sixth goal of the year.

The Ducks answered back in the second period with a pair of unanswered goals. First Perry beat Martin Jones just 45 seconds into the second period on what appeared to be a set faceoff play. After the Ducks won the faceoff back to Rickard Rackell, Rackell dished the puck to Brandon Montour at the point to Jones’ left. Montour then fed a pass cross-seam to Perry waiting on the opposite post. From there Perry, a one-time 50-goal scorer knew what to do, positing the puck in the net for a tie game.

The Ducks have been depleted by injury this season, missing players like Ryan Kesler, Ryan Getzlaf and Cam Fowler for large chunks of time. While it has hurt the Ducks in the standings, it has given an opportunity for other players to thrive. Rickard Rackell has taken his opportunity and run with it, as evidenced by him scoring his team-leading eighth goal of the season in the second.

In the waning seconds of a Kevin Labanc penalty, Corey Perry picked up the puck in the slot. Jones stopped his initial shot, but Rackell crashed the net and put the loose puck between the pads of a sprawling Jones for a 2-1 lead at 11:39 into the second.

The Sharks powerplay looked markedly improved following the call-up of Daniel O’Regan before the game against Boston Saturday. He contributed in a big way on the Sharks second goal, winning the board battle before passing the puck to Donskoi. Donskoi dropped the pass back for O’Regan whose shot laid lonely in the crease off a Berra rebound. Tomas Hertl took a swipe on it and whiffed, but ultimately Donskoi connected for his seventh of the year 8:19 into the third.

Neither team found the back of the net in the three-on-three overtime session. The Ducks had the hammer on the shootout and took an early advantage after Logan Couture missed and Corey Perry scored. Joonas Donskoi pulled a reverse move in from his previous shootout winner in the top of the third round with the Sharks down 1-0 and beat Berra to even it up, and Jones at the other end made the stop. Brent Burns’ backhander went in to give the Sharks a temporary lead, but Jones couldn’t stop Cam Fowler’s fourth round attempt to seal the win.

Both teams missed in the fifth round, but two rookie defenseman (San Jose’s Tim Heed & Anaheim’s Brandon Montour) scored in the sixth. From there it was all misses until Vermette tucked his shot inside the post for the win. The Sharks will head to the road to face the Arizona Coyotes for the first time all season Wednesday night, then continue a mini roadtrip by heading to Vegas for their first stop there Friday. After that, the Sharks return home to face the Winnipeg Jets for the first time this year as well.