John Leonard scored his first career goal and the San Jose Sharks earned just their second regulation win of the season with a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night.
San Jose captain Logan Couture and Kevin Labanc added goals in a rare productive second period for the Sharks to help coach Bob Boughner earn his 100th NHL win. Martin Jones made 26 saves.
Sam Steel scored in the opening minute for the Ducks, and Max Comtois had a goal in the third as Anaheim lost for the second time in three meetings with San Jose this season. John Gibson stopped 26 shots.
San Jose Sharks center Ryan Donato (16) leaps over teammate Dylan Gambrell, left, to avoid a shot at Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson (36) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)
The Sharks have had a rough start to the season, entering the game tied for last in the West Division. Their only previous regulation win came Jan. 24 at Minnesota as they opened the season on a 12-game road trip before losing their home opener Saturday against Vegas.
San Jose had been outscored 21-7 in the second period this season, a major factor in the struggles. But the Sharks reversed that against the Ducks.
Labanc ended a 10-game stretch without a goal when he banked a rebound from behind the goal line off Gibson and into the net to give San Jose a 2-1 lead.
San Jose Sharks goaltender Martin Jones (31) makes a save against the Anaheim Ducks as left wing Max Comtois (53) looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)
Couture added his goal after a bad turnover by Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf to give the Sharks a 3-1 lead.
LUCKY BOUNCES
The Ducks got a fortunate bounce to score in the opening minute. Steel skated in on a rush for Anaheim and tried to pass back to a teammate but the puck bounced off defenseman Mario Ferraro’s skate and trickled between Jones’ pads 50 seconds into the game.
Anaheim Ducks right wing Carter Rowney (24) sends the puck down ice past San Jose Sharks defenseman Nicolas Meloche (53) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)
The Ducks got another goal off Ferraro’s stick in the third when Comtois’ centering pass deflected in to make it 3-2.
MINUTEMEN MILESTONE
Leonard tied the game in the first period with a power-play goal. The primary assist went to Ferraro, who was teammates with Leonard in college at UMass. The goal was just the third on the power play for the Sharks in their past 11 games.
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm (47) skates past San Jose Sharks right wing Stefan Noesen (11) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)
BANGED-UP D
The Sharks were down two defensemen with Radim Simek going on injured reserve after getting hurt Saturday on two hard checks by Vegas’ Jonathan Marchessault.
Erik Karlsson tweaked a lower-body injury late in that game and also was sidelined.
Fredrik Claesson and Nicolas Meloche played in their place.
UP NEXT
Golden Knights: Host the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night.
Sharks: Visit the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night.
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