NEW YORK _ Joe Pavelski's goal with 2:11 left in the third period proved to be game-winner as the Sharks topped the New York Islanders 3-2 on Tuesday in goalie Aaron Dell's NHL debut.
After taking a cross ice pass from Brent Burns, Joe Thornton fired the puck to Pavelski, who redirected the puck from the slot past Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak for his second goal of the season.
Pavelski's goal finished a strong night for the Sharks' top line, as Thornton also assisted on Tomas Hertl's critical goal with 1:57 to go in the second period that tied the game at 2.
Dell finished with 21 saves at Barclays Center, as he became the first Sharks goalie to win in his NHL debut since Troy Grosenick, who made 45 saves in a 2-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 16, 2014.
The first two goals Dell allowed were by Anthony Beauvillier and Anders Lee, as the Sharks fell behind 2-1 with 8:11 left in the second period. Lee's goal came after he took a after a pass from Jason Chimera in the slot, fought off a check from Paul Martin and beat Dell to the glove side.
The Sharks tied the game with what seemed like a critical goal by their top line late in the second period. Joe Thornton controlled the puck to the right of Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak then fed it toward the net, where it went off Hertl's right leg and in with 1:57 to go.
The Sharks' fourth line opened the scoring, as Tommy Wingels skated behind the Islanders net and found Karlsson, who quickly put it past Halak for a 1-0 lead. Karlsson might have had his strongest game of the season
Dell wasn't tested much in the first 20 minutes. He saved Cal Clutterbuck's slap shot from just inside the blue line 28 seconds into the first, and had to be quick to stop a backhand shot from Anders Lee 6:31 later. But he didn't have to make a save for the final 12:47.
Dell was making his NHL debut after 157 games in the minor leagues, including 40 last season with the Barracuda.
Dell, 27, won the job to be the backup to No. 1 goalie Martin Jones midway through training camp and finished the preseason with a 1-0-1 record.
"I'll just go to try and play it like another game, trust my preparation and make sure the boys believe in me," Dell said Tuesday afternoon to Sharks broadcaster Dan Rusanowsky.
Dell took an interesting, if unconventional, path to get to this point, from playing in the Alberta Junior Hockey League for two years before attending the University of North Dakota from 2009-2012. In three years, he went 49-20-5, winning a handful of individual awards and helping UND win three straight WCHA titles. UND also advanced to the Frozen Four in 2011 under current Philadelphia Flyers coach Dave Hakstol.
From there it was 44 games in the Central League, 41 games in the East Coast Hockey League, and 72 AHL games.
"There's no need to be nervous for him," Sharks center Chris Tierney said. "He's a good player and that's why he's here. He seems like a pretty relaxed guy, so I think he'll be good in there tonight, and we're going to try and get a win for him."
Dell starting gave Jones a game off before the Sharks face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday in a rematch of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Sharks conclude the trip Saturday in Detroit.
Micheal Haley played on the fourth line in place of Matt Nieto. Haley had the second assist on Karlsson's first period goal.
