By Sara Biela – Content Editor
In a bout between the Pacific Conference’s two best teams, Timo Meier scored twice, including the game-winner in overtime, to lift the San Jose Sharks (6-3-2) over the Anaheim Ducks (5-5-2) 4-3.
The right-winger recorded goals seven and eight on four shots, while also tallying an assist.
“It was a big win by us,” Meier told Dan Arritt of NHL.com. “We had a tough schedule last week. We stuck with it, we stayed positive and got two huge points.”
Logan Couture got the San Jose offense off to another good start with his sixth goal of the season at 2:34 in the first period. However, Anaheim’s Josh Manson tied the game at 1-1 with his first of the season at 4:16.
Right out of the gate in the second period, Rourke Chartier scored his first NHL goal at 2:13. Tomas Hertl recorded his second assist of the night.
Less than two minutes later, Meier scored his first of the game at 4:10 to extend the Sharks’ lead to 3-1. Couture and Erik Karlsson were credited with the assists.
Meier appeared to have scored again at 13:06 in the second, but the goal was disallowed due to him being offsides.
“There was a big swing in the second period when our goal was disallowed,” head coach Peter DeBoer told Dan Arritt of NHL.com. “I thought we had an opportunity there to probably put them away, and we wouldn’t have come down to what it did, but that’s hockey.”
The momentum did indeed shift from San Jose to Anaheim. In desperate need of a goal before intermission, Pontus Aberg scored his first of the season at 16:59 to cut the deficit to one.
In the third period, Aberg struck again at 8:36 with an unassisted goal and tied the game 3-3.
Both teams headed into overtime tied at three goals a piece. Meier put the game away at 2:12 and grabbed the extra point for the Sharks.
Martin Jones made 27 saves, while John Gibson made 45.
“Even though we let them back in the game at the end of the second period, I think we stuck with it and did the best we could with everything that we’ve got to come away with two points,” Karlsson told Dan Arritt of NHL.com.
The Sharks will begin a four-game home stand on Tuesday against the New York Rangers.
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