In San Jose Thursday, the Sharks took a major step forward, not necessarily in the current regular season, but toward the playoffs with a 2-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in overtime.
Logan Couture scored just 39 seconds into the extra session to give the Sharks the win and push them a point closer to the top spot in the Pacific Division, held by the
Sharks defenseman Brent Burns scored in regulation in win over Vegas Thursday night – File Photo by Jack Lima
Knights.
“I turned the puck over earlier in the shift and [Jones] made a big save,” Couture said. “I thought we were going to have a clear 2-on-1. They made a change that was too many men by 50 feet. … I thought we had a 2-on-1, but I saw 2-on-2 and I was able to make a move on their guy. [Marc-Edouard Vlasic] did a good job of driving their backchecker back, and I was able to go far side.”
The victory also showed the Sharks still have enough to go toe to toe with the best in the division.
The Sharks improved to 42-23-9 and are seven points back of Vegas.
“They’re a good team,” San Jose captain Joe Pavelski said. “They don’t give you much. You’ve got to earn it. For us to get a win tonight was important. Plus, just plant that seed. If we stay hot, you never know. We might be able to catch them and get home ice. We took care of business tonight and we’ll try to keep playing well.”
Martin Jones made 24 saves to pick up the win.
“It’s a team that’s ahead of us in the standings,” Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer said. “It’s a good measuring stick for us for where we’re at as the season winds down. We knew it was a big game. I thought we started a little bit tentative the first 10 minutes. I didn’t feel we were playing our game, but I thought as the second half of the first period came around, we started to play, and then in the second and third I thought we really found another level.”
Brent Burns ended a goal-drought with a goal in regulation.
“It’s a huge point,” Vegas head coach Gerard Gallant said. “I thought we played an excellent first period, and San Jose took over a little bit in the second period. Both teams played an OK game, but I think you’ll see better from both teams.”
Tomas Tatar scored the lone Vegas goal in the loss.
Where the Sharks need some work is on the power play as they went scoreless in six chances on the night.
“That first 10-15 minutes we were very flat-footed. Weren’t ready to go. They kind of jumped all over us. I think when we got physical in our zone and started to play a lot more in their zone and get pucks to the net, you saw what happened. It was a good win,” the Sharks’ Evander Kane said of the slow start to the game being outshot in the first period by Vegas.
[WATCH: All Golden Knights vs. Sharks highlights]
Malcolm Subban made 42 saves in the loss.
“They put a lot of traffic in front and you have to track the puck as best you can,” Subban said. “There were times I couldn’t see it, but guys made huge blocks when I couldn’t see the puck.”
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