The San Jose Sharks were back in action on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Following a disappointing loss to the Nashville Predators, the Sharks needed to get back to their winning ways in order to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Sharks started off well, controlling a lot of the play but they weren’t able to find the back of the net and their strong start didn’t last very long.
Macklin Celebrini took the game’s first penalty seven minutes into the first period when he was called for holding. Former Shark Ryan Donato scored his 15th of the season right as the penalty expired to break the deadlock just nine minutes into the opening frame. Connor Bedard recorded his 200th career point on the goal.
William Eklund drew a hooking penalty with just under two minutes remaining in the first period, sending Bedard to the penalty box and giving the Sharks their first power play of the night, which would be killed off by Chicago.
The Sharks seemingly tied things up on a netfront scramble early in the second period, but despite the puck crossing the goalline, the goal was waved off by the official due to Michael Misa kicking it into the net. The Sharks had a solid energy level early in the second period, but many of the chances they were creating were the result of broken plays, rather than smooth, clean passes.
Eklund picked Wyatt Kaiser’s pocket at the blue line, earning himself a breakaway just under seven minutes into the middle frame. Eklund beat Spencer Knight, putting the puck in the back of the net for a highlight reel goal to even things up at a goal apiece.
Kiefer Sherwood gave the Sharks their first lead of the night with just over five minutes remaining in the second period. Shortly after a faceoff, Eklund found Sherwood wide-open inside the faceoff circle. Sherwood fired the one-timer past Knight, making it 2-1.
The Sharks doubled their lead three and a half minutes into the third period. Collin Graf fired a cross-crease backhand pass to Will Smith, who put the puck into the net, making it a 3-1 game. The goal was Smith’s 100th career point, and Celebrini’s assist on the play tied him with Brad Stuart for the 20th most points all-time by a Shark.
Frank Nazar cut the Sharks’ lead back to a single goal as Barclay Goodrow sat in the penalty box for tripping Donato.
Dmitry Orlov turned the puck over in front of the Sharks' net, making for a very scary moment for the Sharks with just over a minute remaining in the third. Nedeljkovic made the save though, maintaining San Jose's lead.
The Sharks held onto their lead despite considerable pressure by the Blackhawks and picked up a very important 3-2 win.
The Sharks have now won five of their last six games and they'll look to add to that on Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers before heading on the road the following night.