San Jose Sharks find formula for success after two blowout losses
SAN JOSE – So much went wrong for the San Jose Sharks over the first three-plus weeks of the regular season that perhaps it was about time that they caught a lucky bounce.
Nikita Okhotiuk’s shot from just inside the blue line toward the net went off the skate of Fabian Zetterlund and right to Tomas Hertl, who was in the perfect spot — right in front of the Edmonton Oilers net – to tap the puck past Stuart Skinner for his second goal of the season.
“When you spend most of the time in (the other team’s defensive) zone, you can get any bounce,” Hertl said. “It was a little bit of a lucky bounce, but I think we deserved it.”
Hertl’s second-period goal, plus Mackenzie Blackwood’s 39 saves in another stellar performance, helped lead the Sharks to a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday in a game between the NHL’s bottom two teams.
Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored with 2:26 left in regulation time. But the Sharks killed a late penalty to Mikael Granlund to secure their second straight win after 11 consecutive defeats.
The Sharks were credited with 35 blocks, including 17 in the third period.
Oilers superstar and reigning Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid, who had 39 points in 27 career games against San Jose before Thursday, was held off the scoresheet. The last time he didn’t earn a point against the Sharks was on Feb. 10, 2018, before he began an 18-game point streak against San Jose.
“I thought it was maybe, in the last couple years, our best defensive game that we played,” Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro said. “We did a good job just being pretty disciplined and taking away time and space against obviously a really skilled team. I’m really happy about our effort tonight.”
Zetterlund scored the Sharks’ first goal, as he was left alone right in front of the Oilers net and buried a nifty pass from Hertl at the 18:35 mark of the first period. The goal was Zetterlund’s team-leading fourth of the season, as he’s already two-thirds of the way to his total of six from last season.
Sharks coach David Quinn liked most of his players but loved what he saw from the line of Hertl, Zetterlund, and William Eklund, who combined for six shots on goal and seven scoring chances. The trio also played well on Tuesday in San Jose’s 2-1 win over Philadelphia.
The two wins come after the Sharks were blasted 10-1 by the Vancouver Canucks 10-1 and the Pittsburgh Penguins 10-2 last week.
“Tommy Hertl was the man and that line was very good,” Quinn said. “It’s going to take a little time Keep chipping away at it. This group’s been through a lot. They’ve taken a lot of emotional punches to the gut.
“Pretty proud of our group to dust themselves off and show a lot of mental fortitude and toughness to put two good games together and be better tonight than we were (Tuesday).”
“It was by far the best game of the year,” Hertl said. “I think everybody played really well. It wasn’t just one guy. … I’m really proud of the group after two tough losses.”
Filip Zadina scored an insurance goal 1:53 into the third period. Sharks center Ryan Carpenter won a puck battle near the Sharks’ blue line and got it up to Nico Sturm, who crossed the Oilers’ blue line before he passed it over to Zadina for a one-timer that beat Skinner.
“That was a ballsy play by (Carpenter),” Quinn said. “Great play by Sturm and Zadina to finish the job. It was a great example of what hard hockey does for you.”
The Sharks (2-10-1) and Oilers (2-9-1) both have five points at the bottom of the Pacific Division, with Edmonton ahead on points percentage because it has played one fewer game.
The three goals were enough offense for Blackwood, who had 23 saves through the first two periods to help the Sharks earn back-to-back victories since March 30 and April 1 of last season. He made 14 saves in the first period, including two on the penalty kill as Okhotiuk and Sturm were called for slashing and boarding, respectively.
San Jose began this season with a 0-10-1 record before Blackwood made 38 saves on Tuesday.
“He’s so confident,” Hrrtl said. “It’s easy for us to play for him because if we make a mistake, he’s there for us.”
The Sharks now begin a two-game road trip, as they travel to play the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday and the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.