Sharks with Back-to-Back win over Ducks
Kane scores for 3rd straight game
San Jose Sharks left wing Evander Kane, left, celebrates after scoring on Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ryan Miller, right, while center Ryan Getzlaf skates by during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
2021.03.13 – Evander Kane scored for the third straight game, Martin Jones stopped 26 shots and the San Jose Sharks beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 on back-to-back win Saturday night.
Kevin Labanc and Dylan Gambrell also scored for the Sharks, who have their first three-game winning streak this season. That includes victories on consecutive nights during which they have outscored the Ducks 9-1.
“It feels good to have this first little winning streak, especially on the road,” coach Bob Boughner said. “I believe if we play like we have over the last two games, we can have success against a lot of teams.”
It was Jones’ 163rd win in goal for the Sharks, tying him for second in franchise history with Antti Niemi. Evgeni Nabokov leads with 293.
“I felt pretty good out there. The defense did a good job clearing out bodies, which allowed me to pick out the loose pucks,” Jones said.
Kane continued his goals streak six minutes into the first period when he went coast to coast and beat Miller with a wrist shot. Three of Kane’s 11 goals this season have come against the Ducks.
2021.03.13 – San Jose Sharks vs. Anaheim Ducks (Video Highlights)
San Jose Sharks right wing Kurtis Gabriel, left, tries to get a shot past Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ryan Miller, right, as defenseman Ben Hutton defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
2021.03.13 – San Jose Sharks vs. Anaheim Ducks (Video Highlights)
2021.03.13 – San Jose Sharks vs. Anaheim Ducks (Video Highlights)
“These are important wins,” Kane said. “Guys like myself understand you can’t get too far out of the race, especially at this point of the season.”
After Max Jones tied it for Anaheim at 5:38 of the second period, Labanc put San Jose back on top 55 seconds later with a one-timer that was set up after a pass by Tomas Hertl. Labanc, who had a goal and two assists Friday night, has scored in two straight games for the second time this season.
Gambrell extended the Sharks’ lead to two goals two minutes into the third when he tipped in a loose puck in front of the net for his first goal of the season.
Max Jones had Anaheim’s lone goal and Ryan Miller made 30 saves. The Ducks, who are in last place in the West Division, have dropped three straight and are 2-5-3 in their last 10 games.
It is the 12th time in 29 games that Anaheim has had one or fewer goals.
“Our whole group should be frustrated,” coach Dallas Eakins said. “If you are just walking in here every day like it is all rainbows and butterflies, that’s not a very good
attitude to have. There has to be frustration, but you have to channel that in the right direction.”
ENDING A DROUGHT
Jones’ goal ended a scoring drought for Anaheim that spanned 119 minutes and 59 seconds. He was able to chase a loose puck into the offensive zone, skated up right wing and had a wrist shot that went off Martin Jones’ blocker into the net.
It was Jones’ fourth of the season and his first point in eight games. The Ducks had two prime scoring opportunities in the first period but could not convert. Danton Heinen was stopped on a breakaway and Max Comtois hit the post.
“We’re just a step behind right now. It’s frustrating right now,” Max Jones said. “We really want to play the right way and it’s not easy. It is something we are struggling with right now.”
2021.03.13 – Sharks Back-to-Back win of 2021 (Video Highlights)
San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns, left, and goaltender Martin Jones congratulate each other after the Sharks defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 in an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
2021.03.13 – Sharks Back-to-Back win of 2021 (Video Highlights)
2021.03.13 – Sharks Back-to-Back win of 2021 (Video Highlights)
INJURY REPORT
The Ducks announced before the game that center Carter Rowney will miss 4-6 months after he underwent surgery Friday to repair a medial meniscus tear in his left knee. … Anaheim center Derek Grant was scratched from Saturday’s game due to an upper-body injury.
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UP NEXT
Ducks: Travel to Colorado on Tuesday. Anaheim has a 2-0-2 mark against the Avalanche.
Sharks: Continue their road trip in Vegas on Monday. San Jose is 0-2-1 against the Golden Knights this season.
Read more at: San Jose Sharks Media Services / More AP NHL
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