By Taylor Lupetti (@tayclupetti)
The San Jose Sharks held on for a 3-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
After being shut out 3-0 by the Sharks on Thursday, the Ducks returned to Honda Center determined to even up the series before heading to San Jose.
Less than a minute into the game, Anaheim right-wing forward Jakob Silfverberg scored to give the Ducks an early 1-0 lead.
Left-wing forward Marcus Sorensen retaliated nine minutes later to tie it up for San Jose.
Logan Couture followed up with a powerplay goal with five minutes remaining to send the Sharks into the second period up 2-1.
Couture tallied his 31st career playoff goal, and an assist earlier in the game made it his 40th for the 28-year-old playing in his 88th postseason game.
San Jose’s final goal of the night was scored by center Tomas Hertl at 1:11 of the second period.
Anaheim’s defenseman Hampus Lindholm was able to get a powerplay goal past Sharks’ goaltender Martin Jones but that’s all the Ducks were left with.
Jones came to San Jose’s defense (literally), protecting the net from Anaheim’s 28 attacks on net. Anaheim goal-minder John Gibson made 32 saves.
Evander Kane did not see any goals after his playoff debut which featured two goals. Instead, the left-wing forward found himself with a split lip from Anaheim, but it did not stop him from staying on the ice.
The Sharks are heading home to SAP Center on Monday for Game 3 of the seven-game series where they have a chance to sweep the Ducks and advance to the Western Conference semifinals.
