Sharks 2, Senators 1: Reimer’s timely saves, special teams lead to best start in years

KANATA, Ontario – It perhaps says something about the Sharks and where they’re at right now as a team when they can play a decidedly less than perfect game and still come out with a victory.

That was the case Thursday as they gave up 24 shots in the final two periods and managed just one goal at even strength and still managed a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre.

Kevin Labanc’s second-period power-play goal proved to be the difference as the Sharks improved to 3-0-0, their fastest start to a season since 2015-16 when they won their first four games.

Labanc, set up near the top of the circle to the right of the Senators’ net, took a pass from Erik Karlsson and ripped a slap shot past goalie Matt Murray at the 14:36 mark of the second period for a 2-1 Sharks lead.

Logan Couture also scored and goalie James Reimer made 30 saves, including 11 in the third period.

“We didn’t have our best legs, we didn’t have our best stuff,” Couture said. “We turned too many pucks over throughout that game. (Reimer) made some big saves, especially early in the third. But we just worked and blocked shots at the end.

“(Reimer) stepped up huge stuff and we stuck together as a team.”

The Sharks’ road trip continues Friday in Toronto against the Maple Leafs,

Some takeaways from Thursday’s game.

PENALTY KILL: The Sharks and Senators were playing 4-on-4 midway through the third period when Brent Burns was whistled for interference. The Sharks were absolutely gassed at that time as Burns and others had been out there for over 90 seconds.

The Sharks then went out and killed the Burns penalty, with Couture winning a defensive zone faceoff to start. San Jose then limited the Senators to one shot on goal.

The Sharks were 3-for-3 on the penalty kill Thursday and are now 8-for-8 on the season. Reimer made three saves on the kill and made seven more during 4-on-4 play.

MORE BELIEF: The Sharks were 8-17-3 last season when they allowed the first goal and 3-16-2 when they trailed after the first period. Now, the Sharks are 2-0-0 on both fronts after Ottawa opened the scoring at the 10:06 mark of the first period with a wrist shot from the right circle that got through Reimer.

The Sharks also trailed the Winnipeg Jets 1-0 after one period in their season opener on Oct. 16.

“Instead of trying to do it on our own and getting away from our structure, we stick together as a team,” Couture said. “Play the game that the coaches want us to. Make smart decisions with the puck. Find a way to win.”

OVERTURNED GOAL: Labanc scored what appeared to be his second of the season with just over six minutes left in the first period as he fired a wrist shot past Senators goalie Matt Murray. But after a coach’s challenge by Ottawa, it was determined that Nick Bonino was offside.

HAPPY RETURN: Thursday’s game marked the third time Karlsson had been back in Ottawa to play the Senators since he was acquired by the Sharks in a blockbuster Sept. 2018 deal. The Sharks were hammered by the Senators by a combined score of 11-4 in visits in Dec. 2018 and Oct. 2019, with Karlsson earning no points in and being saddled with a plus/minus rating of -6.

Karlsson now has five points this season and is one of five Sharks players to register a point in all three Sharks games so far.

GOALIE WORK: Reimer was solid in the preseason with 1-0-1 record, a .915 save percentage, and a 2.18 goals-against average.

Adin Hill was solid in the first two games with a .932 save percentage, and entering Thursday, his 21-save performance Tuesday in the Sharks’ 5-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens marked the lone shutout for any goalie in the NHL so far this season.

Part of the credit for the Sharks’ success in their first two games was their shot suppression and overall defensive structure. They allowed only 44 shots in the first two games, and per Natural Stat Trick, had allowed just nine high-danger chances against in that time.

The Senators dictated the play at times Thursday as they had 13 shots in the second period and 11 more in the first 17 minutes of the third.

Reimer said the Sharks’ drive to compete right now is what’s making the biggest difference.

“I think it’s that second effort,” Reimer said. “That willingness to get in a lane, that willingness to put pressure on guys and not take a shift off. That’s what has been really encouraging to see.

“More than anything, that really pays off in your own end.”

Coming into Thursday, Reimer, in 16 career games in Ottawa, had a 9-6-1 record and a .929 save percentage. He was especially dominant at Canadian Tire Centre in the first half of his career when he was with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“It dates back a long time, obviously, the fun rivalry between the Leafs and the Sens back in the day,” Reimer said. “So it’s always been a lot of fun coming here.”