The San Jose Sharks were back in action on Monday night as they faced the St. Louis Blues for the second time in less than a week.
The Sharks started their fourth line, who immediately brought some energy, and Adam Gaudette got an early scoring chance, hitting the post. The returning Yaroslav Askarov was forced to make a save at the other end of the ice moments later, denying Pavel Buchnevich and Jake Neighbours on back-to-back shots on goal.
Advertisement
It was a very high-energy game early on, with quite a few chances coming in transition for both teams. Blues defenseman Theo Lindstein would break the deadlock with his first career goal just 5:29 into the first period, giving St. Louis a very early 1-0 lead.
Robert Thomas took the first penalty of the night at 7:11 in the first period when he cleared the puck over the glass. Alex Wennberg scored on the man advantage, marking his 15th goal of the season, tying things up at a goal a piece.
Dalibor Dvorsky gave the Sharks their second power play of the night when he was called for interference at 12:39. Macklin Celebrini would quickly get a goal for his second point of the night, and 100th of the season.
Pavel Buchnevich tied things up with his 17th goal of the season late in the first period, making it a brand new hockey game. It was short-lived, though, as Macklin Celebrini scored his second of the night and tied Erik Karlsson for the second-most points in a season in Sharks history with less than a minute remaining in the period, restoring the Sharks’ lead.
Advertisement
Shakir Mukhamadullin was the first Shark sent to the penalty box when he was called for delay of game early in the second period. The Blues’ power play was short-lived, though, as Pius Suter was penalized for high-sticking 32 seconds later. Nothing came of either abbreviated power play, but the Sharks got another opportunity when Barclay Goodrow drew a hooking penalty nearly halfway through the period. The Sharks once again took full advantage of the power play, as Alex Wennberg scored his second of the night to make it a 4-2 game.
Shakir Mukhamadullin was called for hooking with less than a minute remaining in the middle frame, and the Blues didn’t take long to get back on the scoreboard. Philip Broberg scored the Blues’ third goal of the night, cutting the Sharks’ lead to a single goal.
The Sharks were applying quite a bit of pressure early in the third period as they looked to restore their two-goal lead. Joel Hofer was making some big plays, and even made a very dangerous, but effective play behind the net to cut off the Sharks’ attack. Around the midway point of the period, the Blues started generating some chances of their own forcing Askarov into action a couple of times.
Askarov tripped up Dylan Holloway behind the Sharks’ net with just under nine minutes remaining in regulation, giving the Blues an important power play late in the game. The penalty was served by Will Smith.
Advertisement
Cam Fowler tied things up with 7:07 remaining in the period, putting the Sharks in a difficult situation. The Blues had won both prior games in the season series in overtime; as a result, the Sharks needed to score as quickly as possible if they wanted to leave with two points.
With 21 seconds remaining, Adam Gaudette fired a shot from the faceoff dot, which trickled past Hofer and into the net, giving the Sharks a late lead and forcing the Blues to call a timeout.
The Sharks found a way to win after a hard-fought battle from both sides, earning the two points and preventing the Blues from getting even one.
