Brent Burns got on the scoresheet for the third consecutive game as the Sharks beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 at the SAP Center on Tuesday night.
San Jose enjoyed a strong territorial edge in the first period, and held a 19-3 edge in shot attempts before Tommy Wingels opened the scoring ten minutes into the opening frame. Wingels deflected Paul Martin’s shot, giving the Sharks an early lead. The Canucks would equalize before the end of the period, when Jared McCann corralled an errant breakout pass from Matt Nieto in the slot and fired it past Martin Jones with 1:26 left in the first.
The Canucks began to really control play in the second period, outshooting the Sharks 12-7. But, the Sharks regained the lead just under eight minutes into the period. Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, and Nikolay Goldobin established a cycle low in the offensive zone, as the puck eventually kicked out to Mirco Mueller. Mueller then found a cutting Brent Burns wide open at the top of the face-off circle. Burns attempted to feed Joe Pavelski in front, but the puck deflected off of a Canucks defender through Ryan Miller’s five hole.
The game continued to turn in Vancouver’s favor in the third period, but the Canucks were unable to score on Martin Jones, including two power play attempts. The Sharks held off a late Vancouver surge with the extra attacker, and hung on to get their third win of the preseason.
The Sharks are back in action on Friday, in their penultimate game of the preseason against the Coyotes.
Goals (Assists)- Tommy Wingels (Paul Martin, Tomas Hertl), Brent Burns (Mirco Mueller, Nikolay Goldobin)
FTF Three Stars
1. Martin Jones
2. Alex Biega
3. Brent Burns
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