Sharks stun Caps, 4-1 Karlsson has goal, three points for Sharks

In Washington, DC, the San Jose Sharks stunned the Capitals on Sunday afternoon, 4-1.

Kaapo Kahkonen got the start for the Sharks and allowed one goal on 13 shots. He left the game in the second period, at 16:56, after a collision with the Caps’ Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Aaron Dell made eight saves in relief, Dell had been recalled from the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League.

Erik Karlsson had a goal and three points in the win.

“This is a legit Norris Trophy winner. There’s not a better defenseman in the League right now,” Sharks coach David Quinn said. “I know the points get a lot attention as they should, but all these other things you need a defenseman to do for the most part he’s done throughout the season.”

Evgeny Svechnikov scored in the first period for the Sharks to give them a 1-0 lead.

Alexander Barabanov pushed the lead to 2-0 near the midway point in the middle frame.

The Capitals dropped to 28-21-6.

“They were better than us in a lot of different areas,” Washington coach Peter Laviolette said. “We were reaching. We weren’t working and turned the puck over too many times. We just weren’t good enough to win a game.”

Kuznetsov was the lone striker for the Caps, his goal at 16:56 got them within one at 2-1l Kahkonen was injured on the play.

“I thought that goal was gonna give us momentum, but unfortunately it wasn’t so,” Kuznetsov said. “Tough loss, and I believe that this game, this result, will make us better for sure.”

Karlsson scored at 12:55 of the third for a 3-1 lead to the Sharks.

“I hit [Washington forward Marcus] Johansson’s stick and it took a little bit of a rainbow route,” Karlsson said. “You just try and hit the net and good things happen, right?”

Tomas Hertl added a late empty-net goal to seal the win in a 4-1 final.

Charlie Lindgren made 29 saves in the Caps loss.

“I think the way the game started for myself, that first goal, I think you know, that didn’t set the team up, didn’t put them in a good spot,” Lindgren said. “Obviously, that’s one [save] I want to have, and once you’re down 1-0, you’re trying to battle back.”