Just two games into the new season for the San Jose Sharks, the familiar chants of “Beat LA” rang out at the SAP Center during their clash with the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night. The game quickly turned physical, with Macklin Celebrini engaging Adrian Kempe after the opening whistle when Kempe’s shot narrowly missed colliding with Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov. Early on, the Sharks earned a power play when Kings captain Drew Doughty was penalized for cross-checking. Although their power play was strong at the start, they couldn’t capitalize before Doughty exited the penalty box.
Midway through the period, the Sharks faced some trouble: Igor Chernyshov was injured after a tough pass from Darnell Nurse hit his skate, causing him to receive attention from trainers. Additionally, Doughty collided with Askarov after being hooked by Nolan Allan, leading to a Sharks penalty kill. The Kings capitalized on the situation, with Kempe finding the net to give Los Angeles an early lead.
The Sharks couldn’t find an equalizer before the first period ended, but they started the second frame with a power play after Alex Laferriere was penalized for roughing late in the first. Similar to the Kings’ earlier goal, the Sharks took advantage of the power play, with rookie Ivar Stenberg earning his first career point by assisting Toffoli on a cross-crease pass that equalized the score at 1-1.
San Jose then took the lead just before the halfway mark of the game when Kiefer Sherwood fired a shot from the slot past Forsberg for his first goal of the season, shortly after intercepting a pass. Nolan Allan added his first goal as a Shark on a rush at 12:32, giving the team a 3-1 lead and delighting fans. As the second period neared its end, Los Angeles cycled the puck with a delayed penalty on Celebrini for slashing, creating multiple scoring chances—including a shot that hit the post. The Kings managed to capitalize on the ensuing power play, with Quinton Byfield scoring his first goal of the season with just 1.3 seconds left in the period, reducing the Sharks’ lead to one going into the final period.
In the third, Igor Chernyshov extended the Sharks’ lead with his first goal of the year after a perfect breakout pass from Toffoli, making it 4-2. Despite some criticism of Toffoli’s speed on social media, this play showcased his skill in setting up teammates effectively. Later, Collin Graf received a penalty for tripping veteran Corey Perry at 7:42, but the Sharks’ penalty kill successfully prevented the Kings from scoring on the power play, which was their first failed attempt of the night. The Kings narrowed the gap again when Erik Haula scored at 10:21, bringing LA within a single goal, and Artemi Panarin tied the game with just five minutes remaining, marking the second consecutive game where the Sharks blew a third-period lead.
With the game tied, it headed to overtime, where once again a young Sharks player became the hero—Igor Chernyshov scored his second goal of the night to secure the win and improve the team’s record to 2-0-0.
Fan Take: This game shows that the Sharks are resilient and have promising young talent, making their early season success exciting for fans. It also hints at an unpredictable, energetic season ahead, which keeps the sport fresh and engaging for hockey enthusiasts everywhere.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
