Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) defends against San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic (44) during second period action at T Mobile Center in Las Vegas on Tue Nov 15, 2022 (AP News photo)
By Matthew Harrington
The San Jose Sharks embarked on a tough four-game road trip that realistically could have resulted in four losses given how the season started. Instead, San Jose is on a three-game winning streak, having beaten stout competition in Dallas, Minnesota and their latest triumph, a 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights
Luke Kunin picked up his 100th career NHL point, Timo Meier scored the game-winner on the power play and James Reimer made 24 saves to lead San Jose (6-9-3) past the Pacific Division Leaders after trailing 2-1 after two periods. Erik Karlsson had a pair of assists, Logan Couture had a goal and an assist and Matt Nieto scored his second goal of the year.
Jack Eichel scored his 10th goal of the season for Vegas and Jonathan Marchessault lit the lamp in the loss for Vegas (13-4-0). The Sharks went 1-for-2 on the power play and killed off all 3 Golden Knights power plays.
Nieto tied the game 2-2 1:03 into the third when four Vegas skaters all seemed to be deked out by Alexander Barabanov below the goal line. They expected Barabanov to rim the puck around, opening the slot for Nieto for an easy unmarked goal. Timo Meier gave the Sharks the late lead on the power play at the 17:12 mark, his 8th goal of the year.
The Sharks had just killed off a high-sticking minor at the 14:10 mark before Reilly Smith was sent off for tripping. Couture, who assisted on the Meier goal, also scored an empty netter. Mario Ferraro scored the second empty-netter for the blow out win.
Vegas got on the board first, with Jack Eichel continue his superstar turn in 2022. He was wide open for a cross-crease pass with just 4 seconds left in the first period to give the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead. The goal was a result of a turnover from Nick Cicek who was making his NHL debut with Radim Simek out with an upper body injury.
Kunin scored his milestone goal 8:05 into the 2nd period to tie the game 1-1 after picking up a Karlsson rebound and ripping a shot home. The play was kept alive by Nico Sturm’s forechecking effort to force a Vegas gaffe, good for a secondary assist.
Marchessault beat Reimer with 4:07 left in the period for a 2-1 lead, but he’d be stellar otherwise. After entering the season in a goalie share system, Reimer has emerged as the team’s starter, manning the pipes for all three wins.
The Sharks return home 6 points richer to welcome the emerging Detroit Red Wings Thursday night. After that, they’ll welcome the New York Rangers Saturday and the Ottawa Senators Monday in a three-game homestand.