By Taylor Lupetti
The San Jose Sharks returned home to SAP Center for Game 3 of Round 2 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs where they fell to the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in overtime.
Vegas center William Karlsson scored the game-winning goal at 8:17 of the overtime period to give the Knights a 2-1 lead series lead.
San Jose was first on the board in the second period after a scoreless first. Left-winger Timo Meier put the puck in the back of the net for a power-play goal that gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead.
The Knights tied and took the lead with three unanswered goals including two on power plays by Colin Miller and Jonathan Marchessault. Reilly Smith gave Vegas a two-goal cushion 14:26 into the second period.
Left-winger Evander Kane made his comeback to the ice after a one-game suspension with a goal 7:49 into the third to inch the Sharks within one.
After expressing his frustration of questionable calls from the referees, center Tomas Hertl channeled his anger to the puck that he netted to tie the game with two minutes remaining.
With Hertl’s goal, the game went into overtime for the second time in the series.
Karlsson’s goal in OT gave the Knights their 4-3 victory.
Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made 39 saves for his 68th playoffs win. San Jose goalie Martin Jones 29 saves.
The series will continue in San Jose for Game 4 Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Follow Taylor on Twitter @tayclupetti