Goalie Kaapo Kahkonen regarded strong as he made 35 saves in his first begin in per week Saturday however the San Jose Sharks’ season-long offensive woes continued with a 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Heart.
Kahkonen stopped 28 of 30 photographs within the first two intervals however solely Kevin Labanc was in a position to rating for the Sharks, who now have two objectives or much less in regulation time in every of their seven video games up to now.
The Sharks, who had been hoping to construct on Thursday’s additional time win over the New York Rangers, had been as soon as once more outscored within the second interval. They allowed an even-strength purpose to Yegor Sharangovich on the 13:21 mark and an influence play purpose to Dawson Mercer simply 2:22 later because the Devils took a 2-0 lead.
Labanc responded for San Jose along with his first purpose of the season with 3:45 left within the center interval, however the Sharks had been unable so as to add a second purpose.
The Sharks went 0-for-2 on the ability play, which included an opportunity with the person benefit with underneath 4 minutes left within the third interval.
The Sharks nonetheless haven't scored a purpose within the third interval this season and top-line forwards Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier have now mixed for one purpose and three assists within the first seven video games.
Mercer’s purpose got here after Evgeny Svechnikov was known as for goalie interference on the 14:29 mark of the second, because the Sharks ahead skated into the Devils’ crease and stunned goalie Mackenzie Blackwood.
Mercer’s purpose, which got here after a cross from Nico Hischier, was the primary energy play marker the Sharks had allowed this season. The Sharks got here into Saturday’s sport 20-for-20 on the penalty kill and had additionally killed the primary two penalties they took towards the Devils.
The Sharks had been additionally outshot 20-8 within the second interval. For the season, they’ve been outscored 16-4 and outshot 103-51.
The Sharks (1-6-0), who've 12 objectives of their seven video games, end their four-game highway journey Sunday night in Philadelphia towards the Flyers.
The Sharks had been trying to win back-to-back video games for the primary time since close to the top of final season after they beat the Chicago Blackhawks at residence and the Vegas Golden Knights on the highway in additional time on April 23 and 24, respectively.
Kahkonen received his first begin in per week after he allowed 5 objectives on 25 photographs within the Sharks’ 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks final Saturday at SAP Heart.
Kahkonen wasn’t helped a ton by the skaters in entrance of him that night time, as the ability play allowed two objectives towards, however he nonetheless carried a .814 save proportion into Saturday’s sport in Newark after two begins.
Kahkonen needed to make 10 saves within the first interval, together with two on the penalty kill. The Sharks additionally had some hassle early within the sport coping with New Jersey’s velocity, which led to some high quality Devils probabilities.