SAN JOSE, Calif. – Yes, the San Jose Sharks needed a save on the Washington Capitals’ first shot of the game. And no, it’s not wise to take a penalty and leave Alex Ovechkin open for a one-timer at the top of the circle on the ensuing power play.
But the Sharks perhaps could have lived with those miscues had they just taken advantage of their own opportunities to score Saturday night against Ovechkin and company at SAP Center.
Instead, the Sharks in the first two periods couldn’t capitalize on a handful of high danger chances at even strength or six minutes of power-play time in what turned into a 4-0 loss to the Capitals before an announced crowd of 16,527.
Sharks goalie Adin Hill stopped 11 of 13 shots through the first two periods but couldn’t stop the first shot he faced Saturday. Conor Sheary took a pass on a Capitals rush from Daniel Sprong and beat Hill at the 2:17 mark of the first period for a 1-0 Washington lead.
Washington then took a two-goal lead on a power-play goal by Ovechkin at the 13:58 mark. With Marc-Edouard Vlasic serving a delay of game penalty, Ovechkin took a pass from John Carlson and ripped a slap from the top of the circle shot past Hill for his 13th goal of the season and the 743rd goal of his career.
Sheary and Ovechkin added one goal each in the third period to cap the scoring, as the Sharks have earned just five points in their last eight games. Their four-game homestand continues this week with games against Carolina on Monday, Ottawa on Wednesday, and Toronto on Friday.
Nick Bonino and Logan Couture had quality chances to score Saturday, and Noah Gregor and Tomas Hertl hit the post and crossbar, respectively, on their own individual chances.
But the Sharks have now scored just eight goals, including seven at even strength, in their last five games.
Sharks winger Jonathan Dahlen’s availability for those games might be in question after he was injured in the first period Saturday.
Dahlen was trying to control the puck behind the Capitals’ net when he was bumped by Washington defenseman John Carlson. Just a second later, Dahlen clutched his left shoulder and then grabbed onto the back of the Washington net with his right hand for support.
With the play having moved up the ice, Dahlen then headed straight to the Sharks’ bench and retreated to the team’s dressing room. Play was blown dead with 6:39 left in the period.
Dahlen came back to start the second period and skated for two shifts before he went back into the Sharks’ dressing room. The Sharks announced later in the period that Dahlen would not return to the game.
Dahlen, a rookie, came into Saturday with nine points in 15 games and has been on the Sharks’ top line with Logan Couture since the start of training camp in September. Dahlen’s also been a fixture on the Sharks’ power play and is averaging 14:38 of ice time per game.
After Dahlen left the game for a second time, Sharks’ winger Rudolfs Balcers skated in Dahlen’s place on the line with Couture and Timo Meier.
The Capitals led 1-0 at the time of Dahlen’s injury on Sheary’s goal.
The Capitals entered Saturday in second place in the Metropolitan Division, right behind the Carolina Hurricanes, who come to San Jose on Monday. After a Wednesday game against the Ottawa Senators, the Sharks close the homestand against the Toronto Maple Leafs, owners of second place in the Pacific Division.
Te Sharks were coming off a 2-3-0 road trip that ended with a 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday. Oddly enough, the Sharks only had seven power plays for the entire trip, with no man-advantage opportunities in games against the Winnipeg Jets on Nov. 11 and the Blues.
“t goes hand in hand with playing better,” Couture said Saturday morning. “When you play well and you control the play, you’re going to draw more penalties.”
