Two California teams were set to face off on April Fools’ Day as the San Jose Sharks visited the Anaheim Ducks. The Sharks, fresh off back-to-back losses, were looking to take a win over their in-state rivals. On the other hand, the Ducks were in the hunt to come out of their five-game homestand with a winning record and sweep their season series against the Sharks. With both teams sitting at or near the bottom of the league standings (and the Sharks officially eliminated from playoff contention), Tuesday’s result could impact each franchise’s potential NHL Draft Lottery outcome. Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba returned from injury and Lukas Dostal once again got the start between the pipes for Anaheim. Alexander Georgiev defended the net at the other end of the ice.
Game Recap
The Ducks started strong, with Trevor Zegras redirecting Sam Colangelo’s faceoff win to sneak the puck past Georgiev early in the period. A few minutes later, San Jose responded in kind when Shakir Mukhamadullin fired one from the point and scored his second goal of the season through the legs of Dostal. A slashing penalty on Macklin Celebrini put the Ducks on the power play, which Jackson LaCombe used to his advantage, firing a wrister to put the Ducks up by one. This was LaCombe’s 19th point in 20 games and 43rd point of the season. A holding penalty by Olen Zellweger brought the Sharks their first power play. Shortly after, Drew Helleson was assessed a high-sticking penalty to give the Sharks just over a minute of 5-on-3 play, but the Sharks did not score while they had the advantage.
With the final minute of the period ticking away, Colangelo found the scoresheet again, tipping the puck in to send the Ducks to the locker room up 3-1. Each team had 14 shots on goal, but Anaheim’s ability to convert their chances and kill off penalties gave them a clear advantage in the first period.
The second period passed without much fanfare. The Sharks heavily tested Dostal and the Ducks’ defense, having 15 shots on goal and maintaining consistent control of the puck. Anaheim’s stints of puck control were brief, and their passes were often intercepted or taken by a Sharks player. They registered just four shots on goal in the middle frame. Anaheim did play with noticeable physicality, though, getting 12 hits across the period. Notably, both teams played a clean, disciplined period, with no penalties taken and very few stoppages in play.
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The third period started with some heat, as Troy Terry was cross-checked and knocked down by Mukhamadullin. Frank Vatrano came to his linemate’s defense, checking Mukhamadullin into the boards and causing him some discomfort. Both players were assessed two-minute minors. The teams played less than a minute of 4-on-4 hockey before Will Smith took a tripping penalty and the Ducks had the advantage in 4-on-3 play, but the Sharks successfully killed off their penalties. The Sharks came within one after a goal from the slot by Marc-Edouard Vlasic – his first of the season.
Halfway through the period, Cam Lund took a hooking penalty, and just seconds later, Barclay Goodrow tripped Trevor Zegras. It was Anaheim’s turn to have a two-man advantage. While they kept the puck in the zone for their entire power play, the Ducks were unable to rip one past Georgiev, and the netminder was the cornerstone of the Sharks’ penalty kill. With three minutes remaining in regulation, Alex Wennberg fired a pass from William Eklund to tie the score at three. Remarkably, the Sharks had scored on both of their shots on goal in the third period, and William Eklund further solidified himself as the team’s leader in assists with 38. Sixty minutes were not enough, and the game would go to overtime.
Both teams had multiple good looks in the five-minute overtime period. Troy Terry got close, with the puck bouncing off the crossbar. The Ducks were credited with three shots on goal and the Sharks with one. Georgiev kept the Sharks in the game, stopping shot after shot in the extra session. He would be further tested as the game went to a shootout. Zegras was up first for the Ducks – he is 65% in his career shootout attempts – but his shot bounced off the goal post. Will Smith followed, his shot saved by Dostal. Leo Carlsson could not sneak one past Georgiev, nor could Macklin Celebrini get past Dostal. A slow, patient shot by Mason McTavish found the back of the net, sliding through the five-hole of the Sharks’ goaltender – this would be the only goal in the shootout. Dostal made the final save on Tyler Toffoli to give his Ducks the 4-3 victory.
The Ducks go on the road to face the Calgary Flames on Thursday, and the Sharks will defend home ice against the Edmonton Oilers.
