Sharks miscues, momentum-changing goal review prove costly in loss to Kraken

The San Jose Sharks allowed goals seconds apart in the second period after a pair of defensive miscues in what became a - loss to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday at Context Pledge Arena With the contest tied - a turnover by defenseman Nick Leddy in the Sharks zone at the end of a long shift later turned into a goal by Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson at the mark of the second On the next shift Sharks defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin made an ill-advised pinch inside the Kraken blue line setting up a -on- the other way In the Sharks zone center Chandler Stephenson passed it over winger Eeli Tolvanen for a one-timer that goalie Alex Nedeljkovic had no chance to save The Sharks were unable to mount a response and Kraken forward Jaden Schwartz added an empty net goal with left to play as San Jose closed out a three-game road trip with a - - record Alexander Wennberg scored a first-period power-play goal to tie the championship - but the Sharks were just -for- with the man advantage including three power plays in the third period with six shots on net After Wennberg s goal the Sharks thought they had taken a - lead at the mark of the second period Will Smith came in alone on a breakaway and put a backhand-to-forehand move on Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer who made a toe save Smith s left skate though directed the puck forward and across the goal line The play was ruled no goal on the ice and in a promising turning point executives determined after a review that Smith used his skate to propel the puck into the Seattle net Nedeljkovic made saves in his first start since Nov Grubauer who entered the contest late in the first period replacing an injured Matt Murray was outstanding with saves in relief The Sharks were seeking a response after a - loss to the Calgary Flames on Thursday in which they were thoroughly outplayed and shut out for the second time this season After giving up an early goal to the Kraken the Sharks got a power-play goal from Wennberg with seconds left in the first period Macklin Celebrini drew a hooking penalty on Ryan Lindgren at the mark of the first period to give the Sharks their first power play Then with the puck in the Kraken zone Celebrini took a pass from William Eklund then sent the puck to Wennberg who was stationed in front of the crease and redirected it past goalie Matt Murray for his fifth goal of the season Murray had to leave the event after the goal with a lower-body injury He did not return as Grubauer replaced him Related Articles Sharks place Jeff Skinner on injured reserve recall center from Barracuda Sharks stinker against Flames raises particular red flags as road trip nears end Askarov shines but Sharks come out flat in loss to NHL s last-place crew Sharks winger helped off ice after ugly-looking leg injury vs Flames Kurtenbach Yes the Sharks are for real This is your call to jump on the bandwagon After going -for- with the man advantage over the previous nine games the Sharks made certain adjustments to their power play for Saturday s competition moving Alexander Wennberg to the top unit and sliding Tyler Toffoli to the second unit Toffoli who had just one even-strength point in his last four games was also moved off the top line with Celebrini and Will Smith to the third line with Adam Gaudette and Ty Dellandrea The Kraken opened the scoring at the mark of the first period Stephenson took a pass from Jamie Oleksiak to start a rush skated around Sharks defenseman John Klingberg and fed Jaden Schwartz who directed the puck past Nedeljkovic for his sixth goal of the season