Another late effort saw the San Jose Sharks fight back against a strong opponent, but this opponent was just too strong for Team Teal. The Dallas Stars beat the San Jose Sharks 5-2 in a game where the Sharks didn't show their bite until the third period. A few minor injury concerns have arisen from this one, and everything went wrong for the Sharks. They were unable to find twine for a third time on Jake Oettinger.
It started in the first period when Thomas Harley moved the puck across the point to his defense partner Matt Dumba. Dumba's shot was blocked on the way through, and it fell to Jason Robertson, who fired home to put the Stars ahead in the first period. Mackenzie Blackwood had half the state of Texas between him and the puck and couldn't see it, and the Stars struck late in the first frame.
However, the Sharks have their star forward, and he'd tie the game up short-handed. William Eklund sent the puck up the ice on the penalty kill and let Mikael Granlund fly onto it. On a breakaway with several Stars rampaging back to try and break up the scoring chance, Granlund beats Oettinger and ties this game up at one. It's a short-handed goal for good measure as the Sharks flex their offensive muscles down a man, and it's 1-1.
In the second, the Stars retook the lead as Roope Hintz entered the offensive zone and dished the puck through for Wyatt Johnston. Johnston had all the time in the world to fire the puck home past Blackwood, and the Stars retook their lead. There was poor defense at the line to let Hintz in so easily, and Johnston was left alone, so there are still areas of improvement for this Sharks roster.
Logan Stankoven picked up the puck behind the Sharks' net and set up his captain to the side of the cage, allowing the Stars to extend the lead. The goal that would turn out to be the eventual game-winner came because of another defensive breakdown. Stankoven was given too much space behind the net, and Jamie Benn was left all alone at the side of the slot. Again, the Sharks are chasing a multiple-goal lead entering the third period.
As the Sharks entered the offensive zone via Mikael Granlund, a tight call on a potential offside ultimately proved to be perfect timing. Granlund fired a pass through the bevy of humanity in the slot to the jumping Jake Walman. Walman picked the corner and scored to cut the lead to 3-2, but the Sharks needed another goal that ultimately wouldn't come. They'd fight but not break through.
Granlund got an elbow to the head and was called off the ice by the concussion spotter, and as the Stars tallied a couple of empty net goals, Walman hurt himself trying to block one of the shots. It was a poor night for Team Teal in the luck department and on the ice, and we can only hope it goes better against the St Louis Blues next time out.