Sharks beat Ducks in first home ice win
Leonard scores first NHL career goal
San Jose Sharks left wing John Leonard (43) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
2021.02.15 – John Leonard scored his first career goal and the San Jose Sharks earned their first home ice win of the season with a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night.
“It means a lot, obviously,” Leonard said. “It’s a dream come true. You dream as a kid scoring a goal in the NHL. Fortunately enough it happened tonight and even better we got the win.”
San Jose captain Logan Couture and Kevin Labanc added goals in a rare productive second period for the Sharks to help coach Bob Boughner earn his 100th NHL victory. Martin Jones made 26 saves.
BOUNCING BACK
Jones was called on the carpet by Boughner after the Sharks’ 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings last week. But Jones was better in the last two games. Although the .889 save percentage in the games against the Golden Knights and Ducks is hardly otherworldly, it is a small step in the right direction.
Sam Steel scored in the opening minute but the Ducks failed to take advantage of good opportunities later in the period and didn’t score again until Max Comtois’ goal in the third.
“The chances were there,” coach Dallas Eakins said. “We couldn’t finish, or there were a couple there where I don’t think the goalie knew he had it. It hit him by accident. We certainly played a solid first period. We had really good chances.”
John Gibson stopped 26 shots for Anaheim.
The Sharks have had a rough start to the season, entering the game tied for last in the West Division. Their only previous regulation win came Jan. 24 at Minnesota as they opened the season on a 12-game road trip before losing their home opener Saturday against Vegas.
2021.02.15 – SJ Sharks vs. Anaheim Ducks (Video Highlights)
2021.02.15 – SJ Sharks vs. Anaheim Ducks (Video Highlights)
San Jose had been outscored 21-7 in the second period this season, a major factor in the struggles. But the Sharks reversed that against the Ducks.
“It was important we had a rebound game. I didn’t like our start. We didn’t come out with enough juice in the first few minutes,” Boughner said. “I really liked how we responded and came back and had a good second period, which hasn’t been very kind to us this season.”
Labanc ended a 10-game stretch without a goal when he banked a rebound from behind the goal line off Gibson and into the net to give San Jose a 2-1 lead.
Couture added his goal after a bad turnover by Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf to give the Sharks a 3-1 lead.
“At the end of the second period we got away from things that were successful for us early in the game,” Steel said. “We pushed back and everything, but it wasn’t enough.”
LUCKY BOUNCES
The Ducks got a fortunate bounce to score in the opening minute. Steel skated in on a rush for Anaheim and tried to pass back to a teammate, but the puck bounced off defenseman Mario Ferraro’s skate and trickled between Jones’ pads 50 seconds into the game.
The Ducks got another goal off Ferraro’s stick in the third when Comtois’ centering pass deflected in to make it 3-2.
MINUTEMEN MILESTONE
Leonard tied the game in the first period with a power-play goal. The primary assist went to Ferraro, who was teammates with Leonard in college at UMass. The goal was just the third on the power play for the Sharks in their past 11 games.
BANGED-UP D
The Sharks were down two defensemen with Radim Simek going on injured reserve after getting hurt Saturday on two hard checks by Vegas’ Jonathan Marchessault.
Erik Karlsson tweaked a lower-body injury late in that game and was also sidelined.
Karlsson is considered day-to-day. It’s unknown when exactly he’ll be back, but it appears he’ll be able to return sooner than Simek, who is on injured reserve with an upper body ailment.
The Sharks played pretty well Monday without both defensemen. Their power play had good puck movement and was able to generate a handful of quality looks, with John Leonard scoring with the man advantage in the first period for his first NHL goal.
In place of Karlsson and Simek, the Sharks dressed Fredrik Claesson and Nicolas Meloche. Coach Bob Boughner was pleased with how they played in their first game as a pair. Nikolai Knyzhov and Marc-Edouard Vlasic played close to 22 and 25 minutes, respectively.
Difficult Stretch Ahead
The Sharks travel to play the St. Louis Blues on Thursday and Saturday. They then begin an eight-game home-stand which includes three games with the Vegas Golden Knights, two with the Colorado Avalanche and two more with the Blues.
Tuesday, the NHL announced the Sharks will host the Minnesota Wild on Feb. 22, a game that was initially supposed to be played April 23.
It’s a daunting string of games for even the best teams in the NHL.
That’s part of the reason why the Sharks’ over the Anaheim Ducks on Monday was so critical.
Not only was it an important two points against a team they’re going to have chase down if they want to make the playoffs, but it also gives the Sharks a little bit of momentum before a stretch of games against arguably the best teams the West Division has to offer.
UP NEXT
Golden Knights: Host the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night.
Sharks: Visit the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night.
Related – SJ Sharks sink the LA Kings in shootout
Related – See below: Best Sharks Game 7 Comeback!
UP NEXT
The Sharks and Coyotes play the second of the two-game series on Saturday.
Read more at: San Jose Sharks Media Services / More AP NHL
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
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Best San Jose Sharks Game 7 Comeback (video)