The San Jose Sharks snapped an eight-game skid with consecutive wins against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres.
Team Teal managed to edge out Toronto in a shootout, handing the Leafs their first shootout game of the season. Fabian Zetterlund sealed the victory, netting the game-winning goal in the tiebreaker.
Jack Thompson opened the scoring for San Jose in regulation, with Alex Wennberg and William Eklund assisting. Tyler Toffoli followed up with a goal, assisted by Wennberg and Shakir Mukhamadullin.
The Sharks carried their momentum into the next night, beating Buffalo 6-2. San Jose’s offensive marks included goals from Timothy Liljegren, Nico Sturm, Eklund, Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. Toffoli capped the scoring with an empty-netter.
Liljegren’s second period wrist shot saw assists from Eklund and Jake Walman.
Sturm’s goal, also a wrister, was assisted by rookie Collin Graf and Klim Kostin.
Eklund’s second point of the night came from his own wrister, with Toffoli and Mukhamadullin picking up assists.
Celebrini’s goal gave the Sharks a two-goal lead and was assisted by Mukhamadullin and Smith.
With less than half a period to go, Smith made it 5-2, Sharks, with an assist from Zetterlund.
Toffoli’s empty-netter was assisted by defensemen Walman and Liljegren.
In their latest wins, Wennberg, Sturm, and Zetterlund have delivered the offensive impact the Sharks needed. Liljegren has also shown more consistency, contributing in both recent wins. After previously noting their need to step up, these players are trending in the right direction.
Off the ice, San Jose has remained active with a few roster transactions and shake ups.
On March 5, San Jose traded goaltender Vitek Vanecek for Patrick Giles. With the Sharks, Vanecek posted a 3-10-3 record and .882 save percentage before the deal. As a 25-year-old forward, Giles has spent most of the season with the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL.
San Jose also recalled goaltender Georgi Romanov and defenseman Jimmy Schuldt from the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda.
Walker Duehr, who was waived on March 3, cleared and was loaned to the Barracuda the following day. Meanwhile, defenseman Henry Thrun landed on injured reserve, likely pushing the team to recall Schuldt.
Thrun last played in the Sharks’ February 27 matchup against the Montreal Canadiens. After sustaining an upper-body injury, Thrun exited in the third period.
Schuldt’s addition likely aids defensive depth as they wrap up their road trip. The 28-year-old defenseman has spent the past six seasons in the AHL, playing for the Chicago Wolves, Henderson Silver Knights and Rochester Americans. This would be Schuldt’s first appearance in the NHL since the 2018-19 season. Over 343 AHL games, Schuldt has recorded 34 goals, 125 points and 218 penalty minutes.
With the trade deadline approaching, San Jose could make additional moves as they continue their rebuild. The Sharks conclude their road trip in Denver on Thursday with a matchup against the Colorado Avalanche.
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Featured image courtesy of San Jose Sharks on NHL.com
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