By Sara Biela – Content Editor
The San Jose Sharks carried a one-goal lead into the last three minutes of the game, but unfortunately fell to the New York Rangers 3-2 in overtime.
The Rangers (1-3-0) scored in the closing minutes of the third period and defeated the Sharks (2-2-1) 37 seconds into overtime.
“You knew they were going to push at some point,” head coach Peter DeBoer told NBC Sports California in a postgame interview. “They were trying for their first win and were pushing a little in the third. I think the shots were 11 to 10, so it wasn’t like we sat back.”
Once again, San Jose was off to a good start early in the first period.
On the first penalty kill of the game, Marcus Sorensen scored shorthanded for his first goal of the season. After making filthy moves to get past Brady Skjei, Sorensen went top shelf on Henrik Lundqvist at 4:31.
Brett Howden tied the game up at one at 13:52. The play was under review for a long time to determine if the Rangers were offsides prior, but the call on the ice stood.
In the second, Joonas Donskoi gave the Sharks the 2-1 lead at 4:59 on the odd-man rush. He also tallied his first goal of the campaign.
San Jose managed to keep its one-goal lead for 32 minutes, but couldn’t finish it off.
Brendan Smith scored at 17:21 and kept the Rangers alive. Pavel Buchnevich passed five-hole on Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Smith capitalized as he was left open in the slot.
“It tough to give up a late goal,” Brent Burns told NBC Sports California. “I think when you’re down, they start throwing everything. We started creating stuff, but couldn’t bury one.”
Both teams received a point as the game headed into overtime, but the Rangers were quickly given the second.
Skjei gave his team their first win of the 2018-19 season 37 seconds into overtime. He shot short side on Aaron Dell and the puck found its way to the back of the net.
“He was able to get it over the top of me,” Dell told NBC Sports California. “I think Cooch (Logan Couture) played it pretty well. I might of cheated a little bit to the pass and gave him somewhere to shoot.”
The Sharks will end their five-game road trip against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.
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