Alexander Wennberg scored on the 1:26 mark of extra time to present the San Jose Sharks a exceptional 5-4 win over the Utah Hockey Membership on Monday as they ended their season-opening nine-game shedding streak in unbelievable and historic trend.
Down 4-1 with below 5 minutes left in regulation time, the Sharks scored three objectives in 1:50 late within the third interval to assist ship the sport into extra time.
Then, with the Sharks on an influence play, Wennberg received a faceoff deep within the offensive zone and went straight to the Utah crease. Mikael Granlund then took the puck and fired it towards the online.
The shot was tipped, went off the top boards and proper again to Wennberg, who roofed it over Utah goalie Connor Ingram for his first purpose of the season.
“It’s been tough for sure,” Wennberg advised reporters. “But, this is what we’ve been talking about –show character. We were down 4-1 and found a way to win the game.”
Wennberg was mobbed by his Sharks teammates proper after the purpose, as they poured off the bench to have a good time their first win of the season after an 0-7-2 begin.
“We deserved it more than anyone else,” winger Fabian Zetterlund stated on the Sharks’ Audio Community after the sport. “You can see in every guy’s eyes. Everyone wants it so, so bad, and we got it. I’m so happy.”
The win was the primary in Sharks historical past when trailing by three or extra objectives with lower than 5 minutes remaining in regulation time.
“No matter what the situation is, you can believe,” stated Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky, who earned his win as an NHL head coach. “It’s not just a feeling. It’s in your mind, it’s in your heart, it’s in your soul. We can get that going here.”
A number of of the Sharks’ prime gamers performed key roles within the comeback.
Granlund, the Sharks’ most constant participant this season, had a purpose and two assists. Zetterlund scored two objectives, defenseman Jake Walman had three assists, and Wennberg and Tyler Toffoli every scored a purpose and an help.
Simply on Saturday, with their 7-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Sharks grew to become the primary workforce in NHL historical past to start out two straight seasons with 9 consecutive losses.
“I love this feeling and the belief in this room that we can win hockey games.”
Coach Warsofsky talks to the workforce after tonight’s comeback and his first NHL win. 👏 pic.twitter.com/MIDT71cHsw
After the loss, defenseman Mario Ferraro issued a assure of kinds, saying, “Tomorrow is a new day. We’re going to get back at it, and we’re going to find ways to improve, and we’re going to get our first win in Utah.”
“I think we’ve believed in ourselves this whole time, and it’s been frustrating at times,” Toffoli stated. “But it’s only one win, and we’ve got to build off of it. We’ve got to get better, keep grinding, keep working, keep improving as a group and having fun.
“I think that was the thing with (Sunday). In practice, we didn’t watch any of the Vegas game. We came, had fun, worked, and had a good outcome today.”
Warsofsky will undoubtedly bear in mind this one for some time.
“The relief and the belief,” Warsofsky stated. “We’ve got a group of guys in there that are going to believe a lot more now, and that’s what this is all about.
“You’ve got to believe that you can win a hockey game no matter the situation.”
The Sharks managed elements of the primary and second intervals however weren’t getting rewarded, as they outshot Utah 26-19 by way of 40 minutes.
Then, with the Sharks down 4-1, Zetterlund, Granlund, and Tyler Toffoli all scored objectives 1:50 aside — all with an additional attacker — late within the third interval. Toffoli’s game-tying purpose got here with 2:42 left in regulation time.
The Sharks began their rally with 4:32 left within the third interval.
After a faceoff within the Utah zone, Granlund managed the puck and fired a shot from simply contained in the blue line. After a scramble beside Ingram, Zetterlund collected the unfastened puck and scored his second of the sport on the 15:28 mark.
The Sharks saved urgent and acquired one other faceoff deep within the Utah zone. On an almost equivalent play, Granlund took a go from Walman and fired a shot that acquired previous Ingram simply 25 seconds after Zetterlund scored.
“We got one on the 6-on-5 there, and then, we just had fun, we just believed it,” Zetterlund stated. “I talked to (Granlund) after the game, and we were laughing about it. He was just zipping the puck to the net.”
With the Sharks down by two after the primary interval, Zetterlund scored his first of the sport and his fourth of the season on a solo rush into the offensive zone on the 9:12 mark of the second interval, going forehand to backhand to beat Ingram.
However Utah acquired that purpose again simply 86 seconds later. After a Sharks turnover of their zone, Ian Cole acquired a shot on internet that goalie Mackenzie Blackwood couldn’t management. The large rebound got here proper to an opportunistic Matias Maccelli, who beat Blackwood from in shut to revive Utah’s two-goal lead.
Contemplating the Sharks’ offensive struggles, Utah, it appeared, kind of put the sport away close to the top of the second interval as defenseman Mikhail Sergachev scored an even-strength purpose with 24 seconds left to place the Sharks in a 4-1 gap.
However the Sharks saved taking part in and outshot Utah 17-3 within the third interval.
“We need to own it, and the leadership needs to own it as well,” Utah coach André Touigny stated. “What happened there, it’s unacceptable — it’s embarrassing.”
The Sharks now begin a five-game homestand, beginning with Tuesday’s sport with the Los Angeles Kings.
“We just stuck with it,” Warsofsky stated. “We’ll enjoy this, turn the page and get ready for L.A.”
“Here’s the thing: there’s a game tomorrow as well,” Wennberg stated. “Obviously, we’re going to enjoy this, but we’re back at it again tomorrow.”
Initially Revealed: October 28, 2024 at 8:58 PM PDT
