Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alec Martinez (23) celebrates with teammates after scoring a first period goal against the San Jose Sharks at the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Fri Nov 10, 2023 (AP News photo)
By Mary Walsh
The San Jose Sharks were shut out 5-0 by the Vegas Golden Knights Friday at T-Mobile Arena. The Golden Knights got goals from Alex Pietrangelo, William Karlsson and Brett Howden, and two goals from Alec Martinez. Adin Hill made 20 saves for the win. Kaapo Kahkonen made 34 saves in the loss.
After the game, Sharks Head Coach David Quinn said:
“Right from the get-go we looked flat for sure. You know, getting down again 2-0 certainly didn’t help our cause. We were half a step behind all night long. We defended way too much, weren’t able to end plays and just were chasing the game really from the drop of the puck.”
Alex Pietrangelo started the scoring just a minute into the game with a wrap around shot. With some activity in front of the net, Pietrangelo avoided all of that and carried the puck behind the net to tuck it in before Kahkonen could get across. Assists went to Michael Amadio and Mark Stone.
Alec Martinez made it 2-0 at 11:19 of the period. Amadio passed the puck up to the blue line for Martinez to take a slap shot that Kahkonen did not seem to see coming. Assists went to Amadio and William Carrier.
Ten minutes into the first period, the Sharks had just one shot on goal, even after a power play. In that light, the six shots for the period indicated that the team improved significantly as the period went on. Still, the Golden Knights had 15. And, in the second period, the Sharks still tallied just six shots.
William Karlsson made it 3-0 with a short-handed goal 2:24 into the third period. Karlsson and Jack Eichel broke away and got around the Sharks defenders. Eichel made the cross-ice pass and Karlsson put it away. Assists went to Eichel and Pietrangelo.
Alec Martinez scored his second of the game, making it 4-0 at 4:40. There was no one between Martinez and Kahkonen, and Martinez had time to pick his shot. He chose to put it just under the top bar. Assists went to Pietrangelo and Karlsson.
Brett Howden scored the fifth goal for Vegas. He got the puck away from Mikael Granlund behind the net. Bounced to Jonas Rondbjerg, who took a shot that Kahkonen stopped. But the rebound came back out to Howden and he was able to snap it in.
The Sharks had three power plays in the third period for a total of four in the game. The Golden Knights had none. The Sharks did well in the face-off circle, winning 33 of 59 draws. Tomas Hertl led the Sharks in shots with five and Mikael Granlund had four. Anthony Duclair did not play on Friday due to illness.
The Sharks next play on Sunday at 5:00 PM PT in Anaheim against the Ducks.



