On Saturday the San Jose Sharks started their road trip with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars.
Due to Mackenzie Blackwood’s placement on injured reserve, goaltender Magnus Chrona, on loan from the AHL, made his start. Chrona stopped 36 of 38 shots on net and five of seven during the shootout. 23-year-old Chrona earned the second star of the game with a .947 save percentage.
Ultimately, Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger outperformed the Sharks during the shootout, securing the first star of the game.
Team Teal struck first with 21-year-old William Eklund opening scoring at 4:39 in the period. Eklund’s wrist shot came from his own rebound but was assisted by Luke Kunin and Jan Rutta.
Chrona made some truly heroic saves with Dallas outshooting the Sharks 12-6 after the first period. The Stars won 70 percent of the faceoffs after 20 minutes of play.
During the second period, Radek Faksa’s backhand, assisted by Sam Steel and Craig Smith, tied the game for the Stars.
At 17:08, following the initial call of no goal, Filip Zadina’s wrist shot was corrected. Assisted by Luke Kunin, Sharks took a 2-1 lead.
After 40 minutes of play and holding a lead, the Sharks still trailed significantly in shots on goal, with 29-11. Team Teal’s faceoff improved, but only slightly with 33 percent in draws. Their hits, however, lead 28-13.
At 4:05 of the third, San Jose’s Zadina got a delay of game, giving the Stars a crucial opportunity. Dallas’ Jamie Benn quickly found Miro Heiskanen off the draw, setting up Jason Robertson’s power play goal.
The remaining 15 minutes of the third stayed scoreless, taking the game into bonus hockey.
In overtime, Chrona stayed cool even when there was a great breakaway chance by the Stars’ Logan Stankoven.
After a seven-round shootout, Benn slipped one past Team Teal’s netminder, securing victory for the Stars.
Despite injuries to forwards Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture, the Sharks’ lineup has seen other players step up on the scoresheet.
Eklund, playing as a second liner in the Sharks’ offense, extended his goal streak to two games. The winger also had a plus-two rating in the matchup.
While Zadina has also been playing the second line recently, he has 19 points in 54 games for the season. But in the last four games, he has two goals. In the matchup with Dallas, Zadina also had a plus-two rating.
Centerman Kunin contributed with a plus-two rating, two assists, two shots, and 18:27 of ice time in the game.
The Sharks, standing at eighth place in the Pacific Division, hold a 15-38-6 record this season, with 22 games remaining.
Team Teal kicks off their three-game homestand on Tuesday, facing the Stars again.
Next, the Sharks play against the New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators.
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Featured image courtesy of San Jose Sharks on NHL.com
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