SAN JOSE, Calif — Linus Karlsson scored in the sixth round of the shootout, and the Vancouver Canucks beat the San Jose Sharks 4-3 at SAP Center on Saturday.
The Canucks Drew O’Connor (18) and Mario Ferraro (38) battle along the boards as Linesperson Ryan Gibbons jumps on the boards – Photo by Jack Lima
Marco Rossi, Jake DeBrusk and Teddy Blueger scored for the Canucks (23-48-8), who snapped a four-game losing streak. Kevin Lankinen returned from an upper-body injury and made 28 saves in his first start since April 1.
“They came out real hard, and we were resilient,” Canucks coach Adam Foote said. “Throughout the game, guys didn’t quit. It was a fast-paced game, and we had a good penalty kill, and we were able to get a couple power-play goals.”
Igor Chernyshov scored twice for the Sharks (37-34-8), who are 0-2-1 in their past three games. Yaroslav Askarov made 38 saves, and Macklin Celebrini had two assists to reach 110 points (42 goals, 68 assists).
The Canucks Teddy Blueger (53) celebrates his goal that tied the game 2-2 late in the third period – Photo by Jack Lima
San Jose is five points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference with three games to play.
“Just some of our details, I would say, is the biggest thing,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said, “Details in our D zone, which was tonight. In previous games, there were some other issues.”
Chernyshov put the Sharks up 1-0 at 16:19 of the first period. After a face-off win by Celebrini at the right face-off dot, Chernyshov got the puck at the top of the crease and made a backhand move around Lankinen’s right pad.
The Sharks Igor Chernyshov (92) celebrates his first of two goals of the night – Photo by Jack Lima
Rossi tied the game 1-1 at 5:56 of the second period. Victor Mancini dumped the puck behind the Sharks net, and after Askarov read the bounce wrong, Rossi put the rebound in from the left of the crease while Askarov got caught on the back of the net, causing it to fall.
“I mean, lucky bounce and we’ll take that,” Rossi said. “We played a good game because we just kept it short out there. Nothing fancy tomorrow, just play a hard 60 again.”
Tyler Toffoli put the Sharks back up 2-1 at 9:02. Sam Dickinson entered the zone at the left point and dropped a pass to Toffoli, and his wrist shot beat Lankinen by the glove.
DeBrusk tied it 2-2 with a power-play goal at 17:37. Filip Hronek fired a one-timer from the point, and the rebound went to DeBrusk at the top of the crease, and he slid the puck past Askarov’s left pad.
The Sharks Keifer Sherwood (44) battles Canucks center Marco Rossoi (right) for the puck along the boards – Photo by Jack Lima
Chernyshov gave San Jose a 3-2 lead at 12:44 of the third period. Celebrini made a pass from the left boards to the hash marks, and Chernyshov’s wrist shot beat Lankinen over the glove.
“He knows how to get open. You see, his goal scoring is one of his best attributes,” Celebrini said. “He’s just such a force out there. It was great for him to get those goals.”
Blueger tied the game 3-3 with a power-play goal at 17:01. Blueger took a loose puck at the right hash marks and fired a wrist shot over Askarov’s glove.
Sharks Will Smith (2) loses control of the puck as he attempts a shot on Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen during shootout action – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks Tyler Toffoli (73) celebrates his second period goal with teammates on the bench – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks Mario Ferraro (3) reaches to block a shot from Brock Besser (6) – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks Maklin Celebrini looks to make a pass during third period action – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov takes a break during overtime action – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov stretches for the puck as Defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin (85) ties up Canucks Ty Mueller (39) – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov stops and shot from Drew O’Connor (18) – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov makes an acrobatic save in overtime as Canucks Liam Ohgren (92) looks for a rebound – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov makes a glove save during second period action – Photo by Jack Lima
Linesperson Brandon Gawryletz jumps on the boards to avoid colliding with the Sharks William Eklund (72) and Canucks Elias Pettersson (40) – Photo by Jack Lima
Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen stops a shot by the Sharks Michael Misa (77) – Photo by Jack Lima
Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen makes a save during first period action – Photo by Jack Lima
Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen dives to stop a shot by Sharks forward Igor Chernyshov (92) as defenseman Tom Willander (5) looks to control the rebound – Photo by Jack Lima
NOTES: Elias Pettersson had an assist to pass Thomas Gradin (246) for the seventh-most road points in Canucks history. … Celebrini recorded his 29th multipoint game of the season and surpassed Joe Thornton (28 in 2005-06) for the fourth most in a single season in franchise history. … Celebrini recorded his 18th multi assist game of the season, which trails only Wayne Gretzky (21 in 1979-80 and 19 in 1980-81) and Sidney Crosby (20 in 2006-07) for the most by a teenager in a single season in NHL history.
