San Jose Sharks’ Marc-Edouard Vlasic (44), Erik Karlsson (65), Fabian Zetterlund (20) and Logan Couture (39) celebrate after a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during second-period at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Mon Mar 20, 2023 (Canadian Press via AP photo)
By Matthew Harrington
The San Jose Sharks lost to the Edmonton Oilers 5-4 in overtime Monday night in a contest that saw an unofficial record four goals overturned. Erik Karlsson scored a pair of goals to set a career high and Alexander Barabanov and Steven Lorentz scored as well for San Jose (19-37-15). Darnell Nurse scored the OT winner for the hosting Oilers (40-23-8) and and Mattias Ekholm netted a pair. Connor McDavid was “limited” to just two points on assists.
Tomas Hertl had a goal wiped off early in the first when Barabanov was ruled offside, but the Russian winger would atone for rushing in too early at the 5:48 mark of the first period. Barabanov took a Hertl pass and clapped a slapshot past Jack Campbell for the 1-0 lead. Nick Bjugstad answered back with his 16th of the year 1:20 later. The Oilers would have goal number two erased later in the period on a goaltender interference call off a Zach Hyman chance.
Kailer Yamamoto scored just 30 seconds into the second period for a 2-1 lead, but the Sharks had an answer on a presumed Andreas Johnsson goal. It’d be erased on another goaltender interference call with Logan Couture grazing Campbell. Steven Lorentz would tie the game at the 8:32 mark when he batted the puck past Campbell. Andrew Agozzino, called up after serving as Barracuda captain all season, had the primary assist on a tap pass for the goal.
Erik Karlsson gave the Sharks a 3-2 lead at the 10:23 mark, beating Campbell on a set of back-hand fore-hand dekes that left jaws dropped. Fabian Zetterlund and Couture assisted on Karlsson’s 21st of the year. Ekholm answered back at the 11:48 mark on a back-hander, but Karlsson stepped up again with 5:37 left in the period.
Karlsson beat Campbell on a wrist shot, his 22nd goal of the year. Karlsson now has a career year in goals after topping his 2014-15 season total of 21 and a career past in points with 87. He sits just one assist shy of matching his career-best set in 2015-16.
Noah Gregor had a goal called off for offside as well, and Ekholm then made the Sharks pay for it by tying the game with just 3:47 left in regulation. Darnell Nurse scored just 15 seconds away from a shootout to finish off the comeback.
Edmonton outshot the Sharks 51-32 including a decisive 8-3 margin in OT. James Reimer still managed a .902 save percentage, saving 46 of 51 Oilers shots in his first game since Saturday night’s refusal to wear a themed warm up jersey in support of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The Sharks continue the Western Canada swing, facing the Canucks Thursday before returning to Alberta to face the Flames Saturday.
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