The San Jose Sharks and Minnesota Wild both came into this game off a loss, and they opened up the contest looking to get back into the win column with gusto.
The Wild traveled for a three-game California road trip fresh off a loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who snapped the Wild’s 12-game win streak with a 4-2 win. The Sharks only got one of four points in a home-at-home series against rival Los Angeles Kings. The rough part for the Wild: in the last five years they average less than two goals per game when in California. That was not the case tonight as they Wild scored four in the final frame.
https://twitter.com/chrisjws/status/817249438301188096
First Period
The Sharks had the early edge in play as two rookies, Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc would have good looks on Dubnyk to get the Sharks the early lead but missed the net on both chances.
On the other end, Martin Jones sharp angle stop on Jason Zucker late in the first stopped a frenzy in front of the Sharks net.
Both goaltenders got help from their posts to keep the score sheet empty in the opening frame. The Sharks took an 8-5 lead on the shot clock into the second stanza.
Second Period
At 11:38 the Sharks second line completed an excellent line rush. Kevin Labanc took the puck over the blue line and fed Joonas Donskoi who wired the puck past Dubnyk for the opening goal of the contest.
The primary assist by Labanc extended his points streak to four games.
The Sharks pressure continued when Micheal Haley would get a good look on Dubnyk, but Melker Karlsson took a high-sticking penalty to put the Wild on the power play with a chance to tie the game. Spurgeon would almost do just that but missed the open net.
Matt Dumba’s holding penalty negated the last 15 seconds of the Wild man-advantage, and Joe Pavelski would quickly strike during 4-on-4 play depositing Brent Burns rebound from the slapshot.
The Wild drew within a goal when Eric Staal’s shot from just inside the blueline would fool Jones and beat him to the high glove side. The period ended with the Sharks holding on to a one-goal lead.
E. Staal gets #mnwild on the board with this power-play marker in the second. #MINvsSJS pic.twitter.com/xWpJFWkc2Q
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) January 6, 2017
Third Period
The Wild capitalized on the hard work of Zach Parise on the far boards to get the puck deep. Parise was rewarded for the hard work with his seventh goal of the season. It was the second Wild goal of the game on just 12 shots.
The tie game did not last long. Joel Ward won the offensive zone face-off and got to the front of the net to slam home the rebound on Burns shot from the point, the second assist the Sharks defenseman would record in that fashion. Less than a minute later Patrick Marleau beat Dubnyk five-hole and gave the Sharks a two-goal lead.
The Wild’s newly constructed top line answered right back.
Eric Staal would collect the puck off his skate and put it past Jones for his second of the game. It was the fourth goal of the period in less than three minutes of game time.
Charlie Coyle, the former San Jose Sharks first-round pick, deked Mirco Mueller and cut to the center of the ice for a chance on Jones who made the save. The next time the Wild went up the ice, Jones gave up the tying goal to Mikko Koivu on the rebound to once again tie the game.
Carlie Coyle against threatened late but DeMelo would hold the speedy forward just enough to disrupt the chance on goal and draw a penalty as well. The Wild powerplay would not score, but no more goals were needed.
Scoring Summary
First Period
(No Scoring)
Second Period
Joonas Donskoi (5) Assisted by Kevin Labanc and Brenden Dillon
Joe Pavelski (13) Assisted by Brent Burns and Logan Couture
Eric Staal (12) Assisted by Charlie Coyle and Zach Parise
Third Period
Zach Parise (7) Assisted by Eric Staal and Nino Niederreiter
Joel Ward (3) Assisted by Brent Burns and Patrick Marleau
Patrick Marleau (11) Assisted by Joel Ward and Chris Tierney
Eric Staal (13) Assisted by Zach Parise
Mikko Koivu (10) Assisted by Jason Zucker and Mikael Granlund
Mikko Koivu (11) Assisted by Mikael Granlund and Jason Zucker
THW Three Stars
First Star: Mikko Koivu (Two goals, assist)
Second Star: Eric Staal (Two goals, assist)
Third Star: Joel Ward (Goal, assist)
NEXT UP
San Jose Sharks vs. Detroit Red Wings
Staples Center – 7:30 PM PST on Sunday, January 7, 2017
Broadcast Channels: CSN-CA, FS-D+
Season Series:
October 22, 2016 – Red Wings 3 Sharks 0
NEXT UP
Minnesota Wild vs. Los Angeles Kings
Staples Center – 1:00 PM PST on Sunday, January 7, 2017
Broadcast Channels: FS-W, FS-N, FS-WI
Season Series:
October 18, 2016 – Wild 6 Kings 3