Resilience, Shootout Victories Keep Sharks' Season Afloat

While the San Jose Sharks haven't yet had the luxury of playing at SAP Center this season (now slated to open their campaign with 12 consecutive road games), an abbreviated 56-game schedule provides "Team Teal" with little room for error.

The Sharks entered Friday's contest against their Southern California rivals with an unflattering record of 3-5-0 on the young season. 

All things considered, their fortunes could have been much worse.

San Jose's first two victories of 2021 came by way of the shootout, while their third was secured courtesy of a brilliant individual effort from six-time NHL All Star Brent Burns.

Meanwhile, the Sharks' losing efforts have typically been less tightly contested, including a dominant two-game stint from the Colorado Avalanche -- outscoring San Jose by seven goals.

Thus, adopting a simple mindset seemed necessary on Friday: find a way to emerge from the first of back-to-back games in Anaheim with two points.

Although the Sharks exited the first period holding a 1-0 advantage (courtesy of Matt Nieto's ability to capitalize on a beautiful feed from Marcus Sorensen), the Ducks quickly flipped the script in the second frame.

In merely eight minutes, Anaheim tallied three consecutive goals, riding their commanding 3-1 lead into the final period of regulation.

To the delight of Bob Boughner and company, San Jose wasn't deterred.

The Sharks capitalized just 39 seconds into the third period, with Evander Kane driving the net and allowing Logan Couture to deposit the loose puck, cutting their deficit in half.

While San Jose was penalized only 15 seconds later, one of their patented remarkable comebacks was already in motion, as Kane swiftly flew down the wing and snapped a shorthanded goal under John Gibson's blocker, knotting the score at three goals apiece.

Six minutes later, with Gibson scrambling to return to his goal crease, Burns proved his incalculable worth to the Sharks once more, winding and firing one past the Ducks' goaltender to provide San Jose with a 4-3 edge.

However, despite an astounding effort (rallying for three unanswered goals in the final period), San Jose wasn't out of the woods quite yet.

With only 8:27 remaining, Maxime Comtois banked a cross-ice feed off of Martin Jones' leg to even the game for Anaheim once more -- ultimately forcing overtime.

Midway through the extra frame, Ryan Donato was penalized for high-sticking, and the Sharks' resilience was tested yet again, as they scrambled to extend the contest to a shootout.

A shootout, where the Sharks remain unscathed on the young season.

After his unfortunate penalty in extra time, Donato totally redeemed himself by waiting out Gibson in the shootout's opening round and burying the go-ahead tally.

On the opposite end of the ice, Martin Jones stood strong, rejecting Rickard Rakell and Maxime Comtois in impressive fashion.

Nonetheless, it was Kevin Labanc depositing the walk-off score, as San Jose completed an improbable 5-4 comeback victory to climb out of the Honda West Division basement.

The Sharks now hold a record of 3-0 in shootouts on the 2021 NHL Season (despite their 1-5 mark in regulation finals).

San Jose and Anaheim will clash again on Saturday, with the puck drop scheduled for 7 PM PST.

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