Dell shines as Sharks top Canucks, end six-game slide
SAN JOSE — Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier both scored and Aaron Dell finished with 33 saves as the Sharks beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Saturday, their first victory under interim coach Bob Boughner.
Meier’s goal at the 7:09 mark of the third period came off an assist from Evander Kane, whose empty-netter with 1:21 left in regulation time proved to be the winner after Canucks forward Bo Horvat scored with 27.6 seconds left.
Kane’s goal was his 14th of the season, as the Sharks snapped a six-game losing streak. Logan Couture scored with eight seconds left to seal the win.
Joe Thornton and Kevin Labanc assisted on Hertl’s goal at the 10:50 mark in the first period, and Dell had 19 saves through two periods.
Dell was making his first start since Dec. 5 when he stopped 27 of 29 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Starting with a 37-save performance against Vegas on Nov. 21, Dell entered Saturday with a 1-1-1 in his last five games, including a .912 save percentage and a 2.64 goals against average.
After facing just seven shots in the first period, Dell had to make 13 saves in the second as the Canucks started to apply some pressure after they killed a tripping penalty to Tyler Myers at the 12:41 mark.
Dell then stopped quality scoring chances by J.T, Miller, Tanner Pearson and Brock Boeser within the first six minutes of the third period.
Playing their second game since Pete DeBoer was dismissed as head coach on Wednesday. the Sharks looked more comfortable in Boughner’s system, as they generated more shots on goal and more chances in front of the Canucks’ net.
The Sharks had 19 shots on goal in the first two periods against Vancouver after they had 18 in 60 minutes in their 6-3 loss to the New York Rangers.
The Sharks entered Saturday in sixth place in the Pacific Division and seven points back of the second wild card spot in the Western Conference.
The game was big for San Jose, which had a chance to make up some ground on a handful of divisional opponents. Earlier in the day, Calgary, Edmonton and Arizona all lost in regulation time.
The game was the Sharks’ second of a seven-game homestand that continues Tuesday against the Coyotes.