SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – After rolling to their first five victories, the San Jose Sharks are showing they can win the tight games, too.
Michal Handzus and Dan Boyle scored in the shootout to help the Sharks extend the best start in franchise history with their seventh straight win, 3-2 over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night.
“That’s what good teams do, but we cannot make a habit of it,” Handzus said. “Obviously, we’ve got to be better than the last two games. We’ve got to work on it. The wins matter, for sure, but you cannot let it slide. You’ve got to still play well.”
Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski scored unassisted goals off turnovers 39 seconds apart in the second period against Devan Dubnyk to break open a scoreless game. Antti Niemi made 26 saves as San Jose remained the only unbeaten team in the NHL with its second straight shootout win.
The Sharks became the third NHL team to win their first five games by at least two goals, but things have gotten tougher the past two in the shootout wins against Anaheim and Edmonton.
The common theme has been Handzus’ shootout prowess.
He has no points this season but has opened the past two shootouts with goals, making him 7-for-12 in two seasons with San Jose and 18-for-34 in his career — the third-best percentage in NHL history.
“He’s just so deceptive,” Sharks captain Joe Thornton said. “I’m not sure why. He sees a spot and he hits it every time. It’s fun to watch.”
After Handzus opened the shootout by scoring on the forehand, Sam Gagner and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins missed for Edmonton. Boyle then won it with his goal in the third round.
Gagner scored in the second period and Taylor Hall tied it in the opening minute of the third for the Oilers, who had won two straight including a 2-1 overtime victory the previous night in Phoenix. Dubnyk made 36 saves, including seven in an overtime that included a San Jose power play.
“I think we have to gain confidence from the way we battled back,” Gagner said.
“It’s obviously a tough one to lose. Coming off a back-to-back against a team like San Jose, who’s playing so well, we have to learn from it and continue to develop.”
Hall got the equalizer at the end of a pretty give-and-go with Jordan Eberle 51 seconds into the third.
The Sharks thought they regained the lead later in the period but Ryane Clowe was called for interference before taking a long pass from Couture and beating Dubnyk.
That’s where the game stood until the shootout.
Penguins 3, Rangers 0
In New York, Tomas Vokoun stopped 28 shots for his 49th NHL shutout as Pittsburgh scored on the first shot of the first and third periods in a victory over the Rangers.
Evgeni Malkin gave the Penguins the lead just 1:24 in, James Neal added a power-play goal 28 seconds into the third — after another costly too many men on the ice penalty for New York — and Simon Despres netted his second NHL goal to give Pittsburgh (4-3) its second win in five games.
Sabres 7, Bruins 4
In Boston, Thomas Vanek had three goals and two assists, setting up the tiebreaking score with 13:06 left in the third period to lead Buffalo over the hosts.
Islanders 5, Devils 4 (OT)
In Newark, Brad Boyes scored a power-play goal on a rebound at 2:01 of overtime and New York handed the Devils their third straight loss in overtime.
Blues 4, Blue Jackets 1
In Columbus, Barret Jackman, Patrik Berglund and Vladimir Tarasenko each scored in the opening 14 minutes, Brian Elliott made 24 saves and St. Louis beat the Blue Jackets for its fourth straight victory.
Maple Leafs 3, Capitals 2
In Toronto, Nikolai Kulemin and Matt Frattin scored third-period goals to rally the Maple Leafs past struggling Washington for its first home win of the season.
Alex Ovechkin and Joel Ward had goals for the Capitals (1-5-1), winless on the road.
Panthers 6, Jets 3
In Sunrise, Florida, Alex Kovalev scored the go-ahead goal during Florida’s five-goal outburst in the third period, helping the Panthers rally for a victory over Winnipeg.
Avalanche 6, Flames 3
In Calgary, Paul Stastny scored twice, including the go-ahead goal in the third period, to lead Colorado over the Flames.
Predators 2, Kings 1 (SO)
In Los Angeles, Sergei Kostitsyn scored in the eighth shootout round, and Nashville snapped its three-game skid with a victory over the Kings.
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