The Sharks made one too many errors in opposition to the NHL’s finest group on Thursday evening.
With the sport tied and defenseman Nicolas Meloche serving a slashing penalty, Mikko Rantanen took a go from Nazem Kadri and beat an outstretched Kaapo Kahkonen on the 12:17 mark of the third interval to assist in giving Colorado a 4-2 win over the Sharks at Ball Enviornment.
Andre Burakovsky added an insurance coverage purpose on the 15:16 mark of the third, because the Sharks have been swept on their two-game, two-day journey in opposition to Central Division groups. San Jose misplaced 5-2 to Arizona on Wednesday evening.
The Sharks had earlier erased two one-goal Avalanche leads on objectives by Brent Burns and Timo Meier. However Colorado was relentless, as that they had had 77 shot makes an attempt over three durations.
Colorado now has an NHL-leading report of 48-14-6. The Sharks are 29-30-8.
“It’s irritating to lose out on the finish there,” Burns stated. “It was staying shut, they have been getting loads, however on the finish, it’s simply robust to lose the way in which it occurred.”
Meier scored his thirty first purpose of the season – a brand new single-season career-high – within the second interval off a workmanlike help from Tomas Hertl on the 12:09 mark. Meier had 30 objectives in 78 video games in 2018-2019, his third season as an expert.
Meier now had six objectives and three assists in his final six video games, as he and linemates Hertl and Alexander Barabanov have pushed the bus offensively for the Sharks since they have been put again collectively throughout the March 20 sport with Arizona in San Jose.
“Powerful sport, good battle by everybody,” Kahkonen stated. “Not a great feeling to return up brief however we simply bought to battle and maintain believing that we’re going to get rewarded.”
Kahkonen was making his second begin for the Sharks after he stopped 36 of 40 photographs in San Jose’s 5-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on March 24. He completed with 42 saves.
“I believed he was wonderful,” Sharks coach Bob Boughner stated of Kahkonen. “A few these objectives, he had no assistance on. He made some massive saves for us on the proper time. He performed extraordinarily properly.”
Kahkonen entered Thursday’s sport with a 1-2-1 report and a .890 save proportion in 4 profession video games in opposition to the Avalanche, all with the Minnesota Wild. Kahkonen was additionally in search of his first win since Feb. 20 when the Wild beat the Edmonton Oilers 7-3.
“It’s robust however, myself, I normally get pleasure from these video games probably the most,” Kahkonen stated of taking part in the Avalanche. “Taking part in in opposition to the very best gamers, you actually know the place you’re at as a person and as a group. They’re a great group, a great line. I simply hoped that we might make one other save and maintain it slightly tighter.”
Kahkonen sparkled within the first interval, making 15 saves because the Avalanche performed at its ordinary blistering tempo. Three of these saves got here on the penalty kill after Ryan Merkley was known as for hooking Nathan MacKinnon on the 8:28 mark of the primary interval.
Colorado took a 1-0 lead on the 1:54 mark of the second interval as Alex Newhook’s shot from simply contained in the blue line bought previous Kahkonen with visitors in entrance. The Sharks challenged for goalie interference, however the NHL state of affairs room decided there was none.
“They stated they didn’t contact me,” Kahkonen stated. “I felt any individual touching me slightly bit, nevertheless it’s a kind of calls that I believe if we’re at dwelling or no matter, they may disallow it. On the highway — 50/50. It’s robust.”
“I believed they have been going to take it again for certain,” Newhook stated.
Darren Helm additionally scored for Colorado. He took a go from Valeri Nichushkin, who stole a breakout go from Erik Karlsson, and beat Kahkonen for his sixth purpose of the season.
Puck administration points plagued the Sharks at occasions Thursday.
“It’s the blokes you need with the puck on their stick at the moment. So, very irritating,” Boughner stated of the turnovers. “There have been video games the place we’ve executed extraordinarily properly, however I speak about it on a regular basis, isn't making an attempt to hit a house run each shift.”
The Sharks have Friday off and host Joe Pavelski and the Dallas Stars on Saturday.