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San Francisco Giants Avoid The Series Sweep With 7-1 Win Over Washington Nationals at Oracle park

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San Francisco Giants starter Jordan Hicks throws to the Washington Nationals in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Apr 10, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, April 10th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

Nick Ahmed and Tyler Fitzgerald had three hits apiece and Jordan Hicks allowed one run in six innings as the San Francisco  Giants avoided a three-game series sweep with a 7-1 win over the Washington Nationals.

Hicks (2-0) has allowed one earned run or less in each of his first three starts this season after signing with San Francisco this offseason. The right-hander allowed four hits and had two strikeouts today.

“He’s talented, but what’s impressed me most is the mix of pitches he uses now,” said Manager Bob Melvin. “It was mostly fastball/slider [as a reliever], now he’s got a sweeper, a split. His velocity will go anywhere from 92-100 mph, which is very tough for a hitter to keep track of.”

Ahmed drove in two runs and scored three times, while Fitzgerald stole two bases and scored twice.

Melvin indicated that Fitzgerald could see more playing time.

What are we, 1-0 [in games] with three stolen bases?” Melvin joked. “Fitzy has got a lot to do with that. He’s got the best speed on our team, and he needs to play too. It’s good that he got a really good game under his belt.”

Fitzgerald also had a big day at the plate, as he went 3-for-3 with a double.

“It’d been a while since I last played,” said Fitzgerald. “I just had a lot built up, and I was ready to get after it and ready to play. I just got my opportunity, and I’m excited I finally took advantage of it.”

Fitzgerald’s performance also excited his teammates.

“That was sick,” said Hicks. “I’ve been waiting to see what he has in his game. He showed today he’s a baller.”

Joey Gallo homered for Washington, his third of the season.

San Francisco banged out 12 hits and went 6 for 8 with runners in scoring position after going 1 for 16 with runners in scoring position in the first two games of the series.

The Nationals stole two bases in the loss, giving them a MLB-best 25 this season.

Patrick Corbin (0-2) gave up 11 hits and seven runs with two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Despite the offensive outburst, San Francisco failed to homer for the sixth straight game.

Giants relievers Ryan Walker and Erik Miller pitched the final three innings, holding Washington hitless.

San Jose Sharks Lose 3-2 In Overtime To Calgary Flames

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San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn stands behind bench with center Kim Kosin (10) and center Mikael Granlund (64) sitting in front at SAP Center in San Jose on Tue Apr 9, 2024 (Bay Area News Group photo)

Tuesday, April 9th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

San Jose, CA – The San Jose Sharks (18-51-9) welcome the Calgary Flames (35-37-5) to SAP Center for their second meeting of three this season, the only one in San Jose on Tuesday night. Last game against the Flames, Sharks won 6-3. Sharks come off a 5-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes, but one big positive from the game is Mikael Granlund (0g, 1a) extended his season-long point streak to eight games (2g, 7a). Granlund enters the contest against Calgary having tallied 25 points in his past 25 games played (7g, 18a). 

The Sharks who had a 2-2 tie with the Flames let it get away in overtime for a 3-2 loss. The Sharks have now lost 13 of their last 15 games.

First period was exciting for SJ fans even though it wasn’t anywhere near a sell out in the SAP Center. Coach Quinn started the “Lund” line, William Eklund, Fabian Zetterlund, and Granlund and seven minutes and 22 seconds into the period, that line got the first goal of the night.

Zetterlund leads a 2 on 1 breakaway with Eklund and after a crisp pass from Zetterlund, Eklund scored with a backhand shot past the Calgary goalie Dustin Wolf. 1-0 Sharks.

Granlund continued his point streak to nine games and the goal was both Eklund and Zetterlund’s 40th point on the season so far. The whole period was a trade of hits between both clubs, one nasty hit specifically resulting in a boarding penalty for Martin Pospisil when he hit Calen Addison. The Sharks didn’t convert on the power play, but the message was received by the Sharks. San Jose goes into the first intermission up 1-0. 

Second Period was more on the side of Calgary and that’s because the Sharks defense couldn’t keep track of the Flames. San Jose extended their lead early in the second period when Mike Hoffman stole the puck, passed to Jacob MacDonald for a backhand goal, 2-0 Sharks.

Flames come back though as Rasmus Andersson scored after shots on goal were blocked, but with no one in teal picking up the puck on a rebound, Andersson hits the third shot past Blackwood for Calgary’s first goal, 2-1.

The Flames weren’t done capitalizing on San Jose as Nazem Kadri gathered the puck that the Sharks defenders lost in the mix and scored off a snap shot to tie the game up. This was a power play goal coming off a Vlasic tripping call. 2-2 headed into intermission. 

Third Period it appeared Calgary tried to bully the Sharks and it was evident when a couple of times the Flames tried to be aggressive, they got penalized. Miromanov tripped Eklund and set up a power play and then in the last 2 minutes of the game, Coleman cross checked Kyle Burroughs and that earned the Sharks a power play that even bled into overtime.

The Flames killed off their penalty in OT, but it was a Mario Ferraro holding penalty that led to Ilya Solovyov to score in a mix up in front of the net, power play goal, 3-2 Flames and Calgary wins.

Next game for San Jose will be in Seattle against the Kraken, Thursday, April 11th.

Washington Nationals Start Off Series Hot With 8-1 Win Over San Francisco Giants

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San Francisco Giants starter Black Snell got touched up by the Washington Nationals at Oracle Park in San Francisco. Snell pitched three innings gave up three hits and three earned runs on Mon Apr 8, 2024 (AP News photo)

Monday, April 8th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

The San Francisco Giants (4-7) continue their opening homestand with a three game series against the Washington Nationals (4-6)… SF is coming off its first winning series of the year after taking two of the last three games from the Padres over the weekend. The Nationals got a seven run win on Monday night over the Giants at Oracle Park with a series opening 8-1 win.

Blake Snell started his first game on the hill for the Giants at Oracle Park and first batter up. Jacob Young and he sat down on strikes. Only allowing one hit, but no runs that first inning. “[I] have a lot to learn. Facing big league hitters for the first time, I was pretty pumped up. There’s a lot to break down…..[I was] trying to nitpick too much instead of getting [it] over the plate…..There’s a lot going through my head right now, but I was pretty amped up, and I was trying to nitpick too much, [which] made the bullen have to cover a lot of innings that they shouldn’t have had to cover.” Said Snell.

The Giants got the first run on the board. Lamonte Wade Jr. doubles on a flyball, Jung Hoo Lee scores, 1-0 SF. 

Snell had back to back walks in the second inning and it required two mound visits, but Trey Lipscomb captalized on the rattled Snell and hit a line drive that scored Keibert Ruiz, 1-1. The Nats would take the lead as Luis Garcia Jr. singled to first and was still safe while also scoring Ildemaro Vargas, 2-1 Nats. Lipscomb steals home and Washington goes up 3-1, but Snell would get out the inning and that would be the end of his night. “I’m excited where I’m at, [and] how the ball’s getting out. I’m always going to get better, [and my stuff’s] going to get more crisp, so my first game, [I’m] happy it’s out [of] the way. [I have] a lot to learn from it, and [I’m] really looking forward to what I’ll be able to do Sunday [versus] Tampa. Said Snell.

The Nationals would pack that lead with a Lane Thomas two run homer and at this point, it seemed like the Giants were going to have to dig deep. 5-1 Nats. Vargas would hit an RBI double and drive in Joey Gallo and the Nationals were up 6-1 with a nail clearly in the coffin. 

Lane Thomas would end up with a 3 RBI night with a single that scored Jacob Young, 7-1 Nats. Tayler Rogers would come in with the bases loaded and get a walk and Nats would insure themselves an 8-1 lead in the ninth inning.

Matt Barnes would come in to close for Washington and other than a single for Thairo Estrada he’d knock down the side and the Nats would win 8-1. 

Next game in the series is April 9th with Josiah Gray (0-2, 14.04) on the hill for the Nationals and Kyle Harrison (1-1, 4.91) for the Giants.

San Jose Sharks Lose 5-2 To Arizona Coyotes; Sharks have lost 12 of last 14 games

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San Jose Sharks goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood can’t stop an Arizona Coyote goal in the third period at SAP Center in San Jose on Sun Apr 7, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, April 7th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

SAN JOSE–In Day 2 of back to back games, the San Jose Sharks (18-51-8) lost to the Arizona Coyotes (33-39-5) 5-2 at SAP Arena on Sunday afternoon . The Sharks were coming off a huge day, in their last game Saturday against the Blues that not only saw an overtime win 3-2, but historic firsts for the locker room. 

William Eklund (3g, 0a) netted his first career hat trick, his first NHL multi-goal game and sixth-career multi-point effort, to lead the Sharks to a season sweep of the St. Louis Blues. He extended his home scoring streak to 10 games (6g, 7a), the 10th time in team history that a Shark has found the score sheet in 10 consecutive games on home ice. Mikael Granlund (0g, 1a) pushed his point streak to seven games (2g, 6a), a season-long. Devin Cooley earned his first career win, making 34 stops on 36 shots faced, and Collin Graf made his NHL debut in the game. 

Game recap: First period was interesting to say the least for Henry Thrun. Thrun started the game with a delay of game which led to a power play goal for Arizona. Lawson Crouse hit a one timer in the slot for an opening goal, 1-0 Arizona.

A interference penalty for Arizona led to a power play goal from Henry Thrun. A slap shot from the blue line ties up the game and Granlund, who got an assist, extends his point streak to eight games making it 1-1.

Lawson Crouse ended up in the penalty box after elbowing Thrun and even though nothing was capitalized on for the Coyotes, it was a wild period for Thrun. Liam O’Brien scored a go ahead goal for Arizona that seemed to be knocked in by a Shark, but it didn’t matter, 2-1 Coyotes. 

Second period Luke Kunin evened it out with a wrist shot, but the highlight was the scuffs that the Sharks were engaging in. By the second intermission it was 2-2 and San Jose had a lot of energy approaching the final period. 

Third period the wheels fell off for San Jose as the Coyotes scored three straight goals to end the game. Dylan Guenther scored the first goal with a quick wrist shot past Mackenzie Blackwood, 3-2 Coyotes. Crouse got his second point of the day with an assist on that goal. Clayton Keller made it 4-2 with a big slap shot, assisted by Nick Schmaltz through the legs. Final goal for Arizona came from an empty netter by Schmaltz that ended the game at 5-2. Coyotes win.  

Next game for the Sharks will be on Tuesday April 9th against the Calgary Flames at SAP Center in San Jose.

Eklund’s Hat Trick Secures 3-2 Victory For San Jose Sharks Over St. Louis Blues

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San Jose Sharks left winger William Ecklund (72) wearing the Hat Trick hat is surrounded by his happy teammates at SAP Center in San Jose for defeating the St Louis Blues on Sat Apr 6, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, April 6th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

SAN JOSE– The St. Louis Blues faced off in the Tank against the San Jose Sharks in this weekend showdown. The Sharks defeated the Blues to end a nine game win streak back on Sat Mar 30. The Sharks once again who had lost 11 of their last 12 defeated the Blues 3-2 at SAP Center in San Jose on Saturday.

Game recap: The first period was scoreless, but it was an even time seemingly in possession. The Sharks pressured the Blues as much as possible. 

The Sharks in the second period took the lead in the second period, thanks to “Slippery Pete” himself, William Eklund. Eklund scored two goals, both of them in power plays. He at this point had 14 goals on the season and the Sharks themselves had the most dangerous lead in hockey, a two goal lead. 

The wheels came off for San Jose in the third as the Sharks let two goals sneak past them. First one from Jordan Kyrou on a power play early in the third period, 2-1 with the Sharks still up. Later in the period, Brayden Schenn scored his 18th goal of the season and the tying goal of the game. 2-2 and we would see overtime. 

Overtime went all the way down to the final minute, but Eklund would make a moment in his career he would never forget as he would score his third goal of the night, securing a hat trick, 15 goals on the season, and a win for San Jose. 3-2 Sharks. 

Post game notes: Last game the LA Kings beat San Jose 2-1 in the SAP Center on Thursday night, Klim Kostin (1g, 0a) lit the lamp for the second consecutive game and third time in the last five contests. Mikael Granlund (0g, 1a) extended his scoring streak to six games (2g, 5a), tying his seasonlong. William Eklund (0g, 1a) pushed his home point streak to nine games, three shy of the Sharks’ team record. Jack Studnicka played in his 100th career NHL game.

Next game for the Sharks is Sunday Apr 7th against the Arizona Coyotes a 3:00pm PDT matinee and the second of back to back games at SAP Center. Coach Quinn can be proud of his young sniper, WIlliam Eklund for a big win.

San Jose Sharks Lose 2-1 At Home To The Los Angeles Kings

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Los Angeles Kings right winger Adrian Kempe (9) scores on San Jose Sharks goaltender MacKenzie Blacwood (29) in the first period at SAP Center in San Jose (AP News photo)

Thursday, April 4th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

SANJOSE–Even though the San Jose Sharks were the hosts, there were an abundance of Los Angeles Kings fans in the house and the Kings gave that portion of the Tank something to cheer for edging out the Sharks 2-1 at SAP Center. Adrian Kempe scored the opening goal on a breakaway, his 25th of the season, 1-0 Kings 11 minutes into the game.

Shortly after the Kempe goal, Akil Thomas scored his first points of the season and the second goal of the game with a wrist shot while embracing a hit, 2-0 Kings. The cheers for the Kings from their fans overshadowed the boos from the Sharks fans in attendance and the 1st period ended with a 2-0 score and the Kings in the middle of a power play. 

A better second period for the Sharks, but only because the Sharks were more physical. A fight between Luke Kunin and Andreas Englund had a fight that woke the crowd up including the home fans. No goals this period, but a sign of hope as San Jose got more chances and had better possession time.

Third period was a nothing period as the Kings played the clock and the Sharks looked defeated as soon as the period started. Klim Kostin scored a goal that gave fans some sense of hope, but it was too little too late, 2-1 Kings to end the game.

Game notes: Two division rivals on opposite sides of the coin face off as the last place in the Pacific Division San Jose Sharks host the 4th place in the Pacific Division Los Angeles Kings. Last game for the Sharks was a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on April Fool’s Day. Fabian Zetterlund (1g, 1a) netted his team-leading 21st goal of the season, a power play tally to open the home team’s scoring in his ninth multi-point game of the season.

Klim Kostin (1g, 0a) scored his fourth goal with the Sharks, his seventh of the season. Mikael Granlund (0g, 1a) extended his point streak to five games (2g, 4a) with an assist on Zetterlund’s goal, and William Eklund (0g, 1a) pushed his home point streak to eight games (3g, 6a) with the secondary helper on the same score. SJS Goals: Zetterlund (21 pp), Kostin (7) . 

Next game for the Sharks will be at home Saturday against the St. Louis Blues.

Oakland A’s Fall To 0-3 After 12-3 Loss To Cleveland Guardians

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The Oakland A’s Zack Gelof runs the bases against the Cleveland Guardians at the Oakland Coliseum in the third of the current four game series on Sat Mar 30, 2024 (Oakland A’s X photo)

Saturday, March 30th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

Oakland, CA – The Oakland A’s host the Cleveland Guardians in the third game of this opening series of the season. Oakland have started 0-2 to start the seasons and have started 0-2 for the third time in the last four years. After last night’s win, Guardians first year manager Stephen Vogt became the 5th skipper in Cleveland franchise history to begin his first season at the helm with a 2-0 record. On the mound for Oakland is JP Sears and for Cleveland it’s Tanner Bibee. 

The A’s who are looking for their first win for 2024 lost their third game of this four game series to the Guardians on Saturday 12-3 at the Oakland Coliseum.

Kyle McCann at catcher is making his MLB debut for the A’s and putting down the signs. Sears had a scare when Jose Ramirez hit a ball that looked like it was going to be a homer, but JJ Bleday snatched it at the centerfield wall. 

Guardians were the first on the board in the second inning after Sears walked Tyler Freeman. Freeman’s walk set the tone, because it was followed up by an RBI triple from Andres Gimenez, 1-0 Cleveland. The triple was capitalized on when Gabriel Arias hit an infield single that scored Gimenez, 2-0 Cleveland, and the Guardians had a two run lead early. 

The A’s were able to tie it up in the second. With the bases loaded, a fielder’s choice scored JD Davis, who got on base with a single, 2-1 Guardians still up. McCann, who in his debut Major League at bat was walked, scored thanks to a Ryan Noda single, but Nick Allen was thrown out at third and the inning was over with the score tied at 2-2. 

In the third, the A’s took the lead after a single and two walks loaded the bases and McCann was at the plate. His second MLB at bat was another walk that scored Zack Gelof, 3-2 Oakland. 

Cleveland wasn’t going to let Oakland hold a lead for long. After Gimenez was hit by a pitch, an Arias single ran in a run to tie up the game. Arias then scored off an Austin Hedges sac fly, now 4-3 Guardians. It would be 5-3 for Cleveland when Steven Kwan hit an RBI single scoring Brayan Rocchio. 

Cleveland extended their lead by 2 runs. One scored on an error where Arias was safe at first, but then Arias would score from a Hedges double, 7-3 Guardians in the 5th inning. The rally would continue as 2 more runs would come in for Cleveland, 9-3 and the A’s needed some type of comeback. With only 5,425 fans in the Colliseum, it wasn’t like there was much energy in the park. 

Steven Kwan got his first homerun this season with a 2 out bomb in the 7th inning, 10-3 Guarduans and some fans started heading to the parking lot. 2 more runs for the Guardians in the 9th and after the A’s were shut down in the ninth, the ballgame was over. 12-3 Guardians.

Next game for the A’s is Easter Sunday, March 31st in the final game of this Cleveland series. On the mound for Oakland is Paul Blackburn and for the Guardians Carlos Carrasco. A’s 0-3 to start the season.

San Jose Sharks Lose To Dallas Stars 6-3, Now On 8 Game Losing Streak

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Dallas Stars center Joe Pavelski (16) takes the puck against the San Jose Sharks defenseman Jan Rutta (84) in the third period at SAP Center in San Jose on Tue Mar 26, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, March 26th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

San Jose, CA – In the “Tank” the San Jose Sharks host the Dallas Stars in a weekday throwdown. The Sharks continued their losing streak extending it to eight straight loses 6-3 at SAP Center.

Last game the Sharks blew a four goal lead to the Chicago Blackhawks to lose 5-4. Thomas Bordeleau (2g, 0a) potted his fifth and sixth goals of the season in the first period, the first time in his career notching two goals in a period. Fabian Zetterlund (2g, 1a) matched his career-high with a three-point effort and his first goal in the game came at 0:16 seconds of the opening second period, besting William Eklund (0:17, Nov. 16, 2023 vs. STL) for the fastest goal scored by a Shark to start a regulation period this year. Klim Kostin (0g, 1a) has registered six points (2g, 4a) in his first eight games with San Jose, including a point in (1g, 2a) in three of his past four games played. William Eklund (0g, 1a) has points (2g, 4a) in six consecutive games on home ice. 

 The first period was a period of missed opportunities for San Jose. A couple big passes that led to breakaways, but no goals for the Sharks. For the Stars it was the exact opposite. Esa Lindell got a slashing call and the missed opportunity for the Sharks of getting a power play goal was capitalized by Wyatt Johnston on a breakaway shorthanded goal, 1-0 Stars.

Johnston in his last game at SAP was a hat trick and now with another goal here, he has 27 total on the season. The Stars weren’t done in the first period, Mason Marchment scored a goal that happened so fast, fans and even some players didn’t even notice the goal occurred at first. After a very quick review it was an easy call that it was a goal, 2-0 Stars, and there was no real energy in the building going into intermission. 

Huge period for both teams, as it was a hot period from the puck drop to the buzzer signaling intermission. 14 seconds into the period, Jason Robertson scored his 25th goal of the season and the third straight goal for the Stars this game, 3-0 Stars.

10 seconds later Alexander Barbanov scored the first goal for SJ, 3-1. A Sam Steel holding call for Dallas then led to a power play goal for San Jose courtesy of William Eklund and it was 8 seconds into the power play. 3-2 and the arena woke up. The period stayed on fire as Luke Kunin and Ty Dellandrea got into a fight and they were throwing hands the old school way and this electrified the crowd for more.

Stars captain Jamie Benn scored, continuing his five game goal streak and gave Dallas the most dangerous lead in hockey, a two goal lead, 4-2 Stars. The fight wasn’t over for the Sharks this period as Kostin kept the game close with a laser wrist shot for a goal, 4-3. The fans were still electric, but Johnston scored another goal, his second of the night and the Stars headed into the third with a 5-3 lead. 

There was only one goal in the third and it was from Robertson, who scored on a power play goal and that was basically the end of the game. A game that had hopes for the Sharks, but before you know it, it was over, 6-3 Dallas. 

Now an 8 game losing streak, San Jose Sharks next game against the Minnesota Wild in the Twin Cities on Thursday, March 28th.

Oakland A’s game wrap: Oakland A’s Lose To The San Francisco Giants 4-1, JP Sears Gives Up 2 Homers To Tom Murphy

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Lawrence Butler (2) of the Oakland A’s stands in at the plate against the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland Coliseum on Mon Mar 25, 2024 (Oakland A’s X photo)

Monday, March 25th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

The Oakland A’s host their cross the bridge rivals the San Francisco Giants in a Spring Training game at the Oakland Coliseum. 

The game was off to a hot start for the Giants as Tom Murphy hit a second inning lead off home run off A’s starting pitcher JP Sears making it 1-0. Sears in the third inning started off by walking Jung Hoo Lee, but got out of that jam and kept it at 1-0, but in the fourth inning Murphy banged another homer off Sears and that led to a pitching change for the A’s as they went into the bottom of the fourth down 2-0. 

Michael Kelly was the new pitcher for Oakland and he started his first full inning in the fifth giving up a leadoff double to Marco Luciano. Luciano would move to third on a Lee groundout, then would score off an Austin Slater sac fly, 3-0 Giants.

Wilmer Flores would then follow up Slater with a solo homerun, 4-0 Giants and again when the A’s would get to the plate, would have no hits as Jordan Hicks ended his outing with just a walk against him. 

Giants pitcher Juan Sanchez gave up the A’s first hit in the sixth inning to Lawrence Butler and he would then score from an Abraham Toro single with the new SF pitcher Erik Miller, 4-1. The A’s looked like they had a chance to deliver a real comeback with the bases loaded, but a ground out from Esteury Ruiz and Miller escaped the jam. 

In the 8th inning Oakland had Lucas Erceg start the inning on the hill and he faced off against Giants hero Pablo Sandoval and gave up a single. It looked like Sandoval would get a run when he would make it all the way to third after a single and a walk, but a ground out ended the inning for Oakland.

The 8th inning looked like the A’s would have a chance from Ryan Noda who made it to third off two wild pitches and it looked like they’d close the gap, but a double play would get San Francisco out the 8th and closer to a win. 

Mason Miller would stop the Giants from any insurance runs by striking out the side, but the A’s would go three up and three down at the plate and lose to the Giants 4-1. 

Before the A’s go into their opening series against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, they face the Giants one more time for Spring Training, tomorrow in Oracle Park in San Francisco. Still no announcement on who will be pitching.

Duclair Gets 2 Points In His Return Game At The Tank As Tampa Bay Lightning Beat The San Jose Sharks 4-1

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The Tampa Bay center Brayden Point (21) gets the puck past San Jose Sharks goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (29) in the third period at SAP Arena in San Jose on Thu Mar 22, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, March 21st, 2024

By Troy Ewers

San Jose, CA – The San Jose Sharks host the Tampa Bay Lightning in Anthony Duclair’s return to the tank. The Sharks hope to turn it around here at the SAP Center against the Lightning who are 37-25-6 and fourth in the Atlantic Division.

Tampa Bay have won four straight games and have for years been one of the toughest opponents in the NHL. The Sharks lost their sixth game in row after the Lightning came back after the Sharks tied it 1-1 in the first period. Tampa Bay wins it 4-1.

The first period was an exciting surprise for fans watching the game, because it went from day to night at the drop of a hat. The first goal was scored by Tampa Bay in the first five minutes courtesy of Nicholas Paul.

Paul’s 19th was off an unfortunate bounce for San Jose goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, making it 1-0 early in the period. The Sharks tied it up on a breakaway goal from their young star William Eklund, who was assisted by Jacob MacDonald. 1-1 and it was that way until the first intermission. Duclair was awarded a big ovation from the San Jose crowd when he was put on the jumbotron, but had a quiet opening period in his return to SJ. 

Quiet second period for both teams. The only thing that got the crowd on their feet was a fight between Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Conor Sheary that didn’y last even 30 seconds, but was enough to keep the fans energetic. 1-1 still by third intermission.

While on a power play, Brayden Point scored a goal past Blackwood, giving him 39 on the season so far and the Lightning a 2-1 lead early in the third period.

The Lightning weren’t done in the third. Duclair got on the board with a goal that counted for his 20th of the season and recording his 80th assist on the season was Nikita Kucherov as Tampa Bay gained a two goal lead in the final period and the momentum seemed to be nowhere near the Sharks favor.

The nail in the coffin was Point scoring his second goal of the night on a timer assisted by Kucherov (his 81st assist) and Duclair (his second point of the night).

The positive for the Sharks in this game was that Eklund now has 5 points in 5 consecutive home games, but other than that, there was nothing to write home about. Next game for the Sharks will be Saturday against Conor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks as the race for the draft lottery continues.