SAN JOSE -- The Sharks losing ways continue as they blow a two goal lead in the third period and fall to the Islanders, 3-2 in a shootout.
This isn't the first time San Jose has lost to a bad team. They previously lost on home ice to the last place Sabres in a shootout so the lesson to be learned: you can't take any opponent for granted.
San Jose struggled coming into this game, losing three straight to end the road trip and now it's a four game winless streak.
Sharks had at least a dozen good scoring chances in the first period. But thanks to the tremendous play of Kevin Poulin in the net and the inability for Team Teal to get the rebound on those shots, it was a scoreless first period.
The key to this loss was the Islanders were never out of the game. The failure of the Sharks to score that goal to give them a three goal lead was costly and this is also why two goal leads are tenuous at best.
Credit the Islanders for scoring two goals in the third period forcing overtime and eventually being decided in a shootout with the game winning goal coming from Kyle Okposo. This road victory for the Isles was their first since beating the Senators on Nov. 1 also in a shootout ending a ten-game losing streak away from Nassau Coliseum.
Of note was during a stoppage of play at 6:20 in the first period, the Sharks gave a video tribute to former goalie Evgeni Nabokov who hasn't played since suffering a groin injury on Nov. 16 vs. Detroit. Nabby was in attendance and shown on the video board. The crowd gave him a standing ovation, a classy gesture.
Sharks coach Todd McLellan didn't seem too upset with the loss:
"Do we feel we deserve the outcome? Well we got the outcome," McLellan said. "So whether we deserved it or not we ended up with it. We started the game very well, I thought we got a little loose in the second period, decided to trade chances and gave a goal up in the first minute and the last minute of the third. Three of the last four games the top line on the other team has handed us, they've done all the damage."
"The goaltender was the first star of the last four games that we've played and that's concerning for the number of opportunities that we've created in and around the net. We need some people to finish it off and we can be better."
But assist captain Dan Boyle was a little more critical:
"We didn't probably do enough to get that third goal and to give up one in the first minute and one in the last two...Through two (periods), we have to be pretty pleased with our effort and what we did but this is one of those games we've seen in the past you outplay a team but don't really have anything to show for it."
Video highlights (shootout)
Goal descriptions
1, Patrick Marleau on the power play takes a shot from the slot. The puck is partially blocked by Thomas Hickey but not enough to keep it from going into the net.
2. Joe Pavelski passes the puck on a rush to Dan Boyle. After the shot from the right circle by Boyle, the puck rebounds back to Pavelski for the wrister near the crease beating Poulin who had no chance to make a save.
3. John Taveres skated through to the crease to get a shot off. Although Niemi made the save, he drew the Sharks to defend him keeping the right side of the net open for Thomas Vanek.
4. Shot off the faceoff and with traffic in front of the net, the puck goes in top shelf.
Contenders
Kevin Poulin - although he gave up two goals, without his contributions in the net, the Islanders should have been trailing 6-0 after the first period!
John Tavares - The one superstar on the Islanders roster, created the first goal of the night for New York and later won the faceoff setting up Okposo's game tying goal.
Kyle Okposo - Islanders right wing on the top line with Tavares gets the game tying goal and also with an assist on New York's first goal of the game. He comes through in the shootout to give New York the surprising win.
Patrick Marleau - A goal and an assist for the veteran who is tied with Tomas Hertl for the team lead in goals with 14.
Joe Pavelski - for his tenacity. He got the goal in the second period and set up Dan Boyle before being rewarded on the rebound. Also had some great scoring chances in the first period but wasn't able to get the puck in the net.
Pretenders
Travis Hamonic - penalized twice in the first period for the Islanders, one for puck over the glass. Sure he's trying to clear the zone but that was a poor clearing attempt. He also got called for hooking in front of the officials.
Matt Carkner - called for roughing as he blatantly leg checked Tomas Hertl giving the Sharks a fourth power play which San Jose finally capitalized, taking a 1-0 lead. The Islanders are bad and have no margin for error so putting the penalty kill out there more than is necessary isn't wise.
Up next, the Sharks take on the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night before another three-game roadie.
Notes
The 18 shots by the Sharks in the first period were the most by any team this season without scoring. ... Marc Edouard-Vlasic led all Sharks players with 24:13 of ice time.