Following up on back-to-back wins over the Seattle Kraken, the San Jose Sharks followed up their efforts with a shock win in our nation's capital as they beat the Washington Capitals 2-1 in overtime. An unbelievable way to start this gauntlet of games that awaits Team Teal, San Jose banked two imposing points and now gets to shift their focus to their next game. Three straight wins tie the season high for the Sharks, and they're hot now.
It started in the first when Tyler Toffoli picked up a loose puck in the middle of the slot. With all the time and space a goal scorer can ask for, Toffoli picked the corner. There isn't a player alive who wouldn't love to have as much time and space as Toffoli had here. He had the freedom of the capital to shoot this puck, and he gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead. You cannot leave a player like Toffoli alone, and the Capitals paid the price.
In the second period, Nic Dowd would get the Capitals level. It broke Mackenzie Blackwood's shutout bid, and he was a big reason this game was so close. Blackwood has proved many of his critics wrong after the Senators game. He's repeatedly demonstrated that he is a good netminder in this league, so he'll likely be departing the organization at the trade deadline to get to a team destined for the postseason.
Nothing went into the net in the third period, but Macklin Celebrini did draw a double minor for high-sticking off Tom Wilson, which led to a powerplay in overtime. On that powerplay, the Sharks snapped the game-winner. It came via William Eklund, and the Sharks took down the beasts of the Eastern Conference in their first game back on the east coast. That's a great win to start this trip as the Sharks look to re-establish themselves as a good team again.