SAN JOSE – Despite a significant second half sag, the Sharks managed to squeak past the Vancouver Canucks in preseason action at SAP Center on Tuesday night, 2-1.
Brent Burns’ second period goal was the difference. The defenseman received a pass from Mirco Mueller, skated untouched towards the crease, and had his attempted pass deflect off of defenseman Matt Bartkowski and through Ryan Miller at 7:43.
Playing with new partner Paul Martin, Burns leads the Sharks with 4 points in the preseason (2g, 2a) and is a team-best +5.
The Canucks outplayed the Sharks after that, but Martin Jones was stellar in net in his second straight preseason start. The 25-year-old goaltender made 29 saves, including all eight in the third period with his team clinging to a one-goal lead.
The Sharks managed just two shots in the third period, and were outshot for the game 30-22.
San Jose jumped out in front on Tommy Wingels’ first goal of the preseason. The forward bodied for position in front of the net with Alex Edler and managed to get a piece of Martin’s floater from the point at the 10-minute mark.
Vancouver tied it late in the frame. Matt Nieto turned the puck over to Jared McCann in the slot, and the forward directed it high over Jones at 18:34.
The Sharks were playing their most veteran lineup to date in the preseason, dressing just all of their players that are locks to make the opening night roster other than Ben Smith and perhaps Joonas Donskoi and Dylan DeMelo.
In an odd quirk to the schedule, the Sharks and Canucks will not meet again until Feb. 28. The Pacific Division rivals will square off five times in the final 42 days of the 2015-16 regular season.
Three players served as alternate captains for the Sharks: Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton. The club has yet to announce who will serve as the full time captain.
The Sharks improved to 3-1-1 in the preseason.
Special teams
Neither team was able to convert on the power play. The Sharks were 0-for-2 while Vancouver finished 0-for-4, including a lengthy four-on-three in the final period.
In goal
Jones improved to 2-1-0 in his first preseason with the Sharks. He has allowed just three goals against on 81 shots (.963 save percentage).
Ryan Miller went the distance for Vancouver, allowing two goals on 22 shots.
Lineup
Chris Tierney left the game in the second period after going hard into the post with his left shoulder, but returned before the end of the frame.
Nikolay Goldobin, the 19-year-old former first round draft pick, spent much of the game on the Joe Thornton-Joe Pavelski line. He had a prime scoring chance in the first period but was hooked down by Brandon Prust before he could attempt a shot, and later a pass from Pavelski on a two-on-one rush was just a little behind the young winger.
Sharks forward Melker Karlsson has yet to play in the preseason with an undisclosed injury.
Vancouver iced a fairly young lineup that did not include the Sedin twins.
Up next
The Sharks are in Phoenix and Anaheim on Friday and Saturday to wrap up the seven-game preseason slate.
San Jose visits Los Angeles on Oct. 7 in its season opener, and hosts the Ducks on Oct. 10 in its home opener.
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