Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks
By Pearl Allison Lo
ANAHEIM — The Anaheim Ducks treated their fans to a 4-1 win over their Northern California rival, the San Jose Sharks, in their preseason home opener at the Honda Center Tuesday.
After Anaheim was shut out for the first time in the preseason by their crosstown rivals 3-0 Monday, they almost shutout San Jose.
The Sharks, still searching for their first win, were able to avoid their first shutout of the preseason.
Both Jakob Silfverberg and Brendan Guhle for the Ducks had a goal and an assist.
It was the first full game in net for both goalies Aaron Dell and John Gibson, who played half the game last time they were in net and gave up one goal apiece. Dell’s last game came versus Anaheim.
The penalty kill was strong for both teams as neither scored through a total of 11 power plays.
The Ducks’ Derek Grant’s shorthanded empty netter at 19:38 of the third summed up the majority play of the game.
Sharks coach Peter DeBoer commented, “As a group, I thought they (Ducks) were a little bigger, a little heavier, a little harder than us, won more battles than us and that is why they won.” Anaheim won faceoffs by a 61%-39% clip.
San Jose got an early power play at 3:11 of the first during which they got two shots.
At one point, the Sharks had an 8-2 shot advantage.
Both teams got simultaneous penalties at 6:25, but halfway in, San Jose’s Dalton Prout was called for slashing. Anaheim got better looks on their power play and three shots.
Eventually the time spent and pressure in the Sharks’ end proved worthwhile for the Ducks as Andreas Martinsen scored at 11:01. Silfverberg had the first shot and Martinsen corralled the rebound and aimed before Dell could scoop up the puck in his glove.
The Ducks made it 2-0 when Jeffrey Viel tried to clear the puck and got Dell going in all different directions. Viel’s attempt went right to Isac Lundestrom who shot as the puck went to the backboards and Rickard Rakell found Silfverberg with his second goal in as many games at 14:17.
Both teams finished off the period with a fight with 2:52 left. Viel had the majority of punches to begin and Sam Carrick finished the scuffle off with Viel turned away. It was San Jose’s first preseason fight and there would be two more to follow.
Just 1:10 into the second period, Anaheim kept their momentum when Guhle wristed a goal from the top of the left faceoff circle as the puck hit the crossbar upon its entry.
Penalties were assessed near the end of the period again.
Prout was whistled for kneeing and a game misconduct at 17:18.
33 seconds later, however, Max Jones shaved off the extra man advantage as he high-sticked Jacob Middleton.
Before the high-sticking call wore off, Jonny Brodzinski and Dylan Gambrel’s back-and-forth paid off. Gambrell made a behind-the-back pass back to Brodzinski who completed the play at 19:06 to get one past Gibson.
Goodrow had a shorthanded breakaway attempt in the third, but was denied.
Grant’s empty-netter came nine seconds after teammate Chase De Leo was called for high-sticking.
Up Next: The Sharks are slated to play the Calgary Flames again at home Thursday at 7:30 pm.
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