San Jose Sharks head coach behind the bench looks up at the scoreboard in the third period which reads bad news as the Sharks get shutout by four goals from the Washington Capitals at SAP Center on Sat Nov 20, 2021 (AP News photo)
By Mary Walsh
SAN JOSE– The San Jose Sharks (8-8-1) fell to the Washington Capitals (11-2-5) 4-0 Saturday. Conor Sheary and Alexander Ovechkin each scored two for the Capitals and Ilya Samsonov made 22 saves in the shut-out win. Adin Hill made 17 saves for San Jose in the loss.
Conor Sheary gave Washington an early lead with a goal at 2:17. Daniel Sprong carried the puck into the zone, battling to get by Sharks defenders. With Sharks all around him, Sprong still managed to get a pass across to Sheary for a shot that went under Adin Hill. Assists went to Sprong and Aliaksei Protas.
Alex Ovechkin scored on the power play at 13:58. John Carlson made a pass across the width of the ice, so that the puck landed nicely for an Ovechkin one-timer. The shot went by Hill on the blocker side, finding a gap that was not big. Assists went to Carlson and TJ Oshie.
Midway through the first period, Jonathan Dahlen left the ice and went to the dressing room with what appeared to be an upper body injury. He returned to play two shifts at the start of the second period.
The teams were tied in shots at the end of the first, 6-6. They each had two power plays, but three of those penalties were overlapping by at leaxt 30 seconds. Each team had two power play shots. The Capitals were better in the face-off circle, winning 55% of the draws.
The Capitals appeared to have scored a third goal at 14:31 of the second but the goal was waved off. Adin Hill was impeded by a Washington player being sprawled on top of him.
The Sharks out-shot the Capitals in the second, 10-7. The Sharks power play managed four shots on goal during double minor, and their penalty kill gave up one shot to the Capitals. The Sharks improved in the face-off circle to 67%.
The Sharks started the third period still on the penalty kill, but allowed no more shots during that Capitals power play.
Conor Sheary scored his second of the game to made it 3-0 at 15:10 of the third. Adin Hill stopped John Carlson’s shot but a small rebound went right to Sheary on the doorstep. Assists went to Carlson and Ovechkin.
Ovechkin scored into and empty net at 18:56 to make it 4-0. He took the shot from just inside his own zone. An assist went to Nic Dowd.
The final shot count was 22-21 Sharks. The Sharks had four power plays to the Capitals’ three, and the Sharks won 55% of the face-offs.
The Sharks next play on Monday against the Carolina Hurricanes, in San Jose at 7:30 PM PT.
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