It was a night of firsts in San Jose on
Sunday. The Sharks finally eat the Seattle Kraken for the first time. They were
also powered by two young players who each scored their first NHL goals, en
route to a 3-1 victory at SAP Center. Scott Reedy and Jonah Gadjovich propelled
the Sharks to their 2nd win in the last three games, closing out a tough month
of February on a high note.
Perhaps Sunday night was a preview of what
the Sharks might be capable of when led by the next generation. It was also the
first victory for San Jose where Tomas Hertl or Timo Meier didn't score.
That's important because the Sharks haven't received much secondary
scoring this season, so it was important to get some new blood leading the way.
The opening period could have been a bloodbath for San Jose, who
surrendered 19 shots in the frame, but James Reimer kept them in it by stopping
18 of 19 shots. Head Coach Bob Boughner has to be running out of ways to
motivate his players, because the Sharks seem to fall victim to their same
inability to start on time.
Surprisingly, the Sharks grabbed the
initial lead when newcomer Ryan Dzingel scored his first in teal with a goal at
17:19. Dzingel gathered a Logan Couture pass as he skated between the circles
before whipping a shot that slipped between Kraken goaltender Philipp
Grubauer's pads.
The lead lasted a full 9 seconds before Morgan Geekie
knotted it with a backhand shot that he elevated from the left side. Nicolas
Meloche misplayed the puck at his own blueline before Geekie stripped it and
skated up the left side.
The Kraken scored 4:04 into the 2nd period,
when Calle Jarnkrok gathered a rebound out in front of the net, but the play
was challenged by the Sharks for goaltender interference. The video replay
confirmed that Marcus Johansson impeded James Reimer and the goal was negated.
The Sharks missed on a golden chance when rookie Reedy found himself
with the puck outside the left post a wide open net to shoot on. The forward
who was recalled earlier in the day, took a second too long to setup the shot,
which allowed Grubauer to cover the left side of the net and snuff out the
scoring chance.
The kid learned from his mistakes moments later when
he released a shot immediately after receiving it to beat Grubauer for his
first career NHL goal.
Gadjovich scored his goal via a less
conventional method. The Sharks forward was trying to create some diversion in
front of the net, when a shot fell at his feet and he inadvertently kicked it
into the Kraken net with 5:23 left in the game.
It still counted and
the Sharks had a 2-goal lead that they would not relinquish.
Game
Notes: * The Sharks got more bad news, when it was revealed that
defenseman Mario Ferraro underwent surgery to repair a broken left fibula.
* Rudolfs Balcers was also moved to the IR. San Jose recalled Scott
Reedy from the Barracuda. San Jose also got Nicolas Meloche back after he
missed a game due to injury.
* Scott Reedy found out he was playing
two hours before the game, when he received a phone call. The Sharks have the
luxury of having their top minor league affiliate based in the same city as the
NHL club which makes recall situations like that one a possibility.
*
James Reimer made 39 save and was awarded the game's 1st star for his heroics
in net.
* Jasper Weatherby recorded assists on Reedy and Gadjovich's
goals. It was Weatherby's first multi-point game in the NHL.
