Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (37) celebrates his goal against the San Jose Sharks during the third period at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Fri Jan 6, 2023 (AP News photo)
~ By Pearl Allison Lo
~ January 6, 2023
ANAHEIM– First star Mason McTavish broke San Jose´s 4-3 lead at 13:13 of the third as a questionable ruling prevailed in a 5-4 Ducks series win Friday.
Rookie McTavish had two goals and two assists. The Sharks challenged his game-tying goal for teammate Adam Henrique being offsides and after lengthy review, it was ruled otherwise. McTavish could even be seen after the goal shaking his head saying, ¨I think it was off.¨
Anaheim won the season series 3-1, all three wins coming after regulation. Timo Meier stated, ¨”We find ways to give them chances even though we outplayed and outshot them. We just find ways to lose. We had plenty of chances. We could’ve had 1 or 2 more.” Meier led the team with two scores, originally credited to Kevin Labanc. The teams combined for 70 shots, 41-29.
With San Jose´s Alexander Barbanov charging the net first, Matt Nieto picked up Barbanov´s attempt to make it 1-0 just 38 seconds into the match.
The Sharks doubled the lead at the six-minute mark in a similar fashion to the first score. Steven Lorentz tipped All-Star Erik Karlsson´s shot from beyond the left faceoff circle. It was full circle for Lorentz, as the last time he had a point, it was December 9 when he put one into the net. The play also gave Karlsson a team-leading 14-game point streak. A scuffle followed shortly on the other end between the Ducks´ Sam Carrick and San Jose´s Jonah Gadjovich.
Less than half a minute later, Anaheim split the lead. From the left to the right faceoff circle, John Klingberg passed the puck to Trevor Zegras, who slid the Ducks onto the scoreboard.
San Jose´s Tomas Hertl produced the game’s first power play as he was called for removing Frank Vatrano´s helmet. In between penalties, frustration could be seen on Vatrano´s face as he hit the right post twice trying to score before the puck bounced to goalie Kappo Kahkonen.
Anaheim was granted four minutes on the power play when Lorentz was called for high sticking at 10:37. All-Star Troy Terry was called for interference at 12:44, cutting their advantage but not their chances as McTavish swung the puck left to Ryan Strome who made it a 2-2 tie at 14:15.
30 seconds later, Carrick was called for a two-minute high sticking penalty.
Scoring resumed midway in the second with a total of three goals, two deposited by Meier and one punched in by McTavish, the last two goals 14 seconds apart.
Labanc shot from beyond the left faceoff circle, with Meier tipping it top shelf into the net. McTavish was placed perfectly for the 3-3 open tally as the puck bounced off the end boards away from Kahkonen who went to retrieve it, and right to McTavish´s stick. For Meier´s second, Labanc was able to scramble back in place to receive a pass from Matt Benning before shooting a laser down the slot from the blue line which Meier tipped.
Kahkonen preserved the 4-3 lead when he halted two shots in one second from Brett Leason and John Klingberg as he raced across the net.
McTarvish´s second goal occurred when Marc-Edouard Vlasic´s pass was intercepted by Adam Henrique who in turn gave the puck to McTarvish as he scored down the slot.
In overtime, Hertl lost the puck and Terry scooped the puck back to Klingberg in the slot who bypassed Benning and Kahkonen, as Klingberg jumped to bump the fans through the glass in celebration.
Game notes: The Sharks will try to regroup right away as they head home for a back-to-back as they host the Boston Bruins Saturday at 4pm.
