Kane’s goal in overtime gifts San Jose a muchneeded win
“It’s a game we definitely needed to have. I’m happy to contribute.”
Evander Kane, Sharks left wing, on his gamewinning goal in overtime
Evander Kane gave head coach Bob Boughner the perfect 50th birthday present.
The San Jose forward scored 41 seconds into overtime as the Sharks capped a 32 comeback win over St. Louis at SAP Center on Monday night.
“Birthday or not, we needed a win here,” Boughner said. “The guys were joking before the game I should put money on the board for a win.”
Defenseman Erik Karlsson led a rush out of the San Jose end and fed Kane for his first gamewinner of the season. It was Kane’s ninth goal as the Sharks won in sudden death for the first time in three tries.
Kane was guilty of taking more penalties than Boughner liked early in the seasonlong sevengame homestand, but cleaned that up of late to be effective on the ice.
“He’s done a great job,” Boughner said. “And we’ve had some emotional games and he’s kept it under emotional check while still being physical.”
Kane added: “It’s a game we definitely needed to have. I’m happy to contribute.”
The Sharks tied the game 22 on the power play early in the third period.
Logan Couture won an offensivezone draw and was credited with his teamleading 13th goal when the puck bounced off his ankle and past goalie Ville Husso at 7:58 just nine seconds into the 5on4.
“Huge comefrombehind there,” Couture said. “I thought we competed harder in the third.”
The Blues took a 21 lead into the second intermission thanks to a late powerplay goal.
San Jose killed Kevin Labanc’s highstick infraction at 14:34 but was not able to deny St. Louis when the forward took a tripping penalty at 18:27 on his next shift. Brayden Schenn tipped David Perron’s onetime blast at 19:06 to give the Blues their second onegoal lead of the game.
The Sharks tied the game 11 seven minutes into the middle period when defenseman MarcEdouard Vlasic scored his first goal of the season. His wrist shot from the left edge of the slot tipped off Husso’s glove and settled into the top corner of the net for his first goal in 62 games.
Boughner juggled three of his four forward lines at the start of the period after the team failed to score in the first on home ice for the fifth straight game.
The Blues broke on top at 4:16 of the opening period when Niko Mikkola’s soft wrist shot fluttered over the glove of Sharks goalie Devan Dubnyk for the rookie defenseman’s first career goal.
The Sharks played a sixth straight game without Tomas Hertl, who will be eligible to return from COVID19 protocol to play Friday when the team visits Anaheim to open a fourgame trip.
Power forward Timo Meier missed a second straight game with a lowerbody injury, and rookie Joachim Blichfeld returned after serving a twogame suspension for a hit to the head against Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon on Wednesday.
The 241 homestand leaves the Sharks seven points out of the final playoff spot in the West.
“I don't think we’re happy with it, we’re well back,” Couture said. “We have ground to make up, and we know that.”