Sharks edge Ducks in shootout after back-and-forth game

[February 06, 2021]  Ryan Donato and Kevin Labanc scored the only shootout goals as the San Jose Sharks rallied after a poor second period to defeat the host Anaheim Ducks 5-4 on Friday.

Sharks goalie Martin Jones stopped shootout efforts from Rickard Rakell and Max Comtois before Labanc's tally to open the third round sealed the victory.

Jones made 33 saves for San Jose, which got goals in regulation from Matt Nieto, Logan Couture, Evander Kane and Brent Burns. A two-point night gave Burns 700 in his NHL career. Kane also finished with two points.

Comtois scored twice in regulation, Troy Terry had a goal and an assist, and Adam Henrique also scored for Anaheim. Derek Grant logged two assists, and Ducks goalie John Gibson stopped 26 shots.

The Sharks led 1-0 at the first intermission, but the Ducks dominated the next 20 minutes to lead 3-1 after two periods. San Jose recorded the next three goals to take a 4-3 lead, but Comtois' second goal of the night, a one-timer past Jones at 11:33 of the third period, leveled the score.

Nieto put the Sharks on the board 1-0 with a backhanded tip shot past Gibson at 12:50 of the opening period. Center Alexander Chmelevski, making his NHL debut, tallied the secondary assist.

While neither team capitalized on power-play opportunities at the start of the second period, the Ducks clearly took over momentum. Anaheim eventually tied things up 1-1 when Henrique punched in a shot on a rebound that went between Jones' pads at 10:03.

San Jose Sharks center Ryan Donato (16) plays for the puck against Anaheim Ducks center Troy Terry (61) during the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Terry added to the Ducks' surge with a clean wrist shot past Jones to give Anaheim a 2-1 lead with 6:12 left to play in the middle period. Rakell set up Comtois with 1:38 left in the period to give Anaheim a 3-1 lead as they closed out the period outshooting San Jose 13-3.

Couture got one back for San Jose just 39 seconds into the third period to make it 3-2. After San Jose defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov was sent to the penalty box just 15 seconds later, Kane shot the puck off the far post for a short-handed goal to tie the game 3-3 at the 2:06 mark.

Ryan Donato then set up Burns for a rocket of a slap shot to give the Sharks a 4-3 lead at 8:04.

The tie held through the end of regulation and through overtime as the Ducks failed to take advantage of a power-play opportunity in OT.

The Sharks and Ducks have a quick turnaround, facing off again Saturday night in Anaheim.

--Field Level Media
 

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