The San Jose Sharks looked a lot better in the second straight game without their captain.
ST. LOUIS: It is safe to say the Sharks definitely rebounded after what was an ugly loss on Monday in Dallas and proved they can win without superstar captain Macklin Celebrini. Although they started the game off slow and sluggish, the Sharks found a way to grind it out and get a much-needed two points on the road to end the trip.
“Not a great first; got better as the game went on,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said after the game.
Darnell Nurse scored his first goal with the Sharks on a beautiful pass from Ivar Stenberg to end it in overtime. “It felt wonderful,” Nurse said. “It was nice to battle back. It took us a little bit in the first; our team was resilient and then got to our game. In the third period, we started establishing ourselves. It’s fun to win.”
More from Nurse on Stenberg’s pass for the game winner: “I was trying to yell off the bench, but he has eyes; he sees the whole game. He was amazing for us throughout the game, battling & creating space for himself, and then obviously making big plays at big moments. So he’s fitting right in.”
Colin Graf and Tyler Toffoli scored the other two goals of the night. Toffoli also had an assist.
The Sharks were without captain Macklin Celebrini for the second straight game, as the team’s leading scorer over the past two seasons was out with a lower-body injury.
The Sharks were looking to rebound after a 5-0 loss n Monday, but they got off to an ugly start in the first, allowing a goal for the Blues just four minutes into the game.
Three nights after the Sharks were outshot 11-2 by the Dallas Stars in the first period, they were outshot 11-3 by the St. Louis Blues in the first.
In the second period, the Sharks tied it on a Toffoli goal. Toffoli put a shot on net and followed up on his rebound, scoring his second goal of the season.
Down 2-1 in the third period, Colin Graf responded with his first goal of the season. Defenseman Sam Dickinson chased down a loose puck in the corner and sent it in front of the net, where Graf buried the shot to tie it.
In overtime, Darnell Nurse scored the game winner, taking a nifty pass from Ivar Stenberg and beating Blues goalie Joel Hofer at the 1:03 mark of overtime to help the Sharks beat the Blues in St. Louis.
Warsofsky on Stenberg’s OT pass for Nurse’s game winner: “That pass he has, that’s what he’s all about. But it was the other stuff he did all game. “Can trust him on the ice in certain situations. Knows what’s going on. Really smart player.”
The Sharks are now 3-1-0 and sit in third place in the Pacific division. The Sharks now head back home to face the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday at SAP Center. Puck drop is at 1:00 PM PST.
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