By Taylor Lupetti (@tayclupetti):
There’s no telling what the score of the San Jose Sharks versus the Florida Panthers could have been. Each team scored twice tonight, but only the Panthers were accredited their goals. As for the Sharks, the shutout is one that was argued and fought over heavily during a game that ended 2-0.
After shutting out the Vancouver Canucks and defeating the Los Angeles Kings, the Sharks returned home from LA looking to extended their two-game winning streak.
Playing the Panthers (7-9-2), the Sharks (10-7-0) were hoping to win their seventh of eight games against a Florida team that was looking to inch its way closer to a positive record.
Panthers’ goaltender Roberto Luongo earned his 74th career shutout with 35 saves in comparison to Martin Jones’ 26.
The Panthers were the first on the scoreboard when center Colton Sceviour scored one minute into the second period.
Later in the second period defenseman Tim Heed scored the first goal of the night for the Sharks. After the goal was challenged by Florida, the goal was ruled offsides and overturned.
In an attempt to redeem the goal that had been taken away, center Tomas Hertl scored the second goal of the night. Florida however challenged the goal once again. After the referees spent significant time debating the goal among the protests from the crowd, the goal was taken away again on the grounds of goalie interference.
Florida center Nick Bjugstad sealed the game for the Panthers in the third period with eight minutes left when he scored the second and final goal of the night.
In his first year as head coach for the Panthers, former Sharks assistant coach Bob Boughner faced his old team for the first time. Also welcomed back to SAP was former Shark, center Michael Haley, who played 78 games and spent 187 minutes in the penalty box in his time with San Jose.
The Sharks are staying home this weekend to take on the Boston Bruins Saturday at 7:30 p.m. to take back home ice.
