San Jose Sharks right wing Kevin Labanc misses a shot attempt against Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz during the shootout portion of their game on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Jose Sharks center Nico Sturm, left, reaches for the puck behind Ducks defenseman Dmitry Kulikov during the first period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
The Ducks’ Adam Henrique scores a goal on San Jose Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen during the first period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Ducks center Adam Henrique is congratulated by teammates as he skates back to the bench after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Ducks defenseman Nathan Beaulieu, right, keeps his eyes on the puck as he tries to get out from under San Jose Sharks right wing Kevin Labanc during the first period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Jose Sharks center Nico Sturm, left, watches a shot by Erik Karlsson get past Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz for a goal during the first period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson, left, is congratulated by center Tomas Hertl, middle, and defenseman Jaycob Megna after scoring a goal during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
The San Jose Sharks’ Erik Karlsson, center, is congratulated by teammates after he assisted on a goal scored by Nico Sturm (7) during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Adam Henrique, center, is congratulated by Frank Vatrano, left, after he scored a goal during the first period of their game against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Adam Henrique, right, is congratulated by Frank Vatrano and Kevin Shattenkirk after he scored a goal during the first period of their game against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night in San Jose. The Ducks won, 6-5, via shootout. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The San Jose Sharks’ Oskar Lindblom, left, and the Ducks’ Kevin Shattenkirk vie for the puck during the first period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The San Jose Sharks’ Timo Meier, right, shoots and scores his first goal during the second period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The San Jose Sharks’ Luke Kunin, left, and the Ducks’ Adam Henrique vie for the puck during the first period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Frank Vatrano scores a goal past the San Jose Sharks’ Matt Benning during the first period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Frank Vatrano, right, is congratulated by Isac Lundestrom after he scored a goal during the first period of their game against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Adam Henrique, right, skates past the San Jose Sharks’ Mario Ferraro, left, Logan Couture and Matt Benning (5) on his way to scoring a goal during the first period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Adam Henrique, right, is congratulated by Trevor Zegras, left, after he scored a goal during the first period of their game against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz, right, stops the San Jose Sharks’ Logan Couture, center, from scoring during the second period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl, right, and Ducks right wing Jakob Silfverberg pursue the puck during the second period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Ducks center Adam Henrique skates toward the puck next to San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro during the second period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Ducks defenseman Nathan Beaulieu, left, fights with San Jose Sharks center Luke Kunin during the second period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
The San Jose Sharks’ Luke Kunin, bottom, and the Ducks’ Nathan Beaulieu fight during the second period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Ducks center Ryan Strome, middle, is congratulated by defenseman John Klingberg, left, and right wing Troy Terry after scoring against the San Jose Sharks during the second period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Ducks right wing Troy Terry, left, falls toward the puck next to San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro during the second period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz stops a shot by the San Jose Sharks’ Logan Couture during the second period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The San Jose Sharks’ Timo Meier, left, skates past the Ducks’ Jakob Silfverberg on his way to scoring his second goal during the second period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
San Jose Sharks right wing Timo Meier is congratulated by teammates as he skates back to the bench after he scored against the Ducks during the second period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
The San Jose Sharks’ Steven Lorentz, left, gets tangled with the Ducks’ Max Jones during the second period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Max Jones complains about an official’s call during the second period of their game against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Cam Fowler, right, controls the puck in front of the San Jose Sharks’ Steven Lorentz during the second period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Ducks left wing Max Comtois, right, watches his shot get past San Jose Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen for a goal as Sharks defenseman Jaycob Megna looks on during the third period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Ducks left wing Max Comtois, left, is congratulated by defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk after scoring against the San Jose Sharks during the third period on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Jose Sharks coach David Quinn, middle, gestures to players during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
The San Jose Sharks’ Timo Meier puts a shot on goal as he is hit by the Ducks’ John Klingberg on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The San Jose Sharks’ Erik Karlsson reacts after he scored his third goal of the night during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The San Jose Sharks’ Erik Karlsson, right, is congratulated by Tomas Hertl after he scored his third goal of the night during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture removes hats from the ice after teammate Erik Karlsson’s third goal of the game, during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Ducks head coach Dallas Eakins, top middle, gestures toward players during the third period of their game against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Ducks right wing Troy Terry scores a goal past San Jose Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen during the shootout portion of their game on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Ducks left wing Max Comtois, left, celebrates with goaltender Anthony Stolarz after they defeated the San Jose Sharks, 6-5, in a shootout on Tuesday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 01: Anthony Stolarz #41 of the Anaheim Ducks is congratulated by Max Comtois #44 and Frank Vatrano #77 of the Anaheim Ducks after they beat the San Jose Sharks in a shoot out at SAP Center on November 01, 2022 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz is congratulated by teammates after they beat the San Jose Sharks in a shootout on Tuesday night in San Jose. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE — It was a battle to avoid the basement – two teams trying to gain some traction in the second month of the NHL season, after not quite getting off to the start they wanted.
In the end, it was the Ducks who emerged victorious, beating the Sharks, 6-5, on Tuesday night at SAP Center in a wild and chaotic contest decided by a shootout. The Ducks were playing the opening game of a three-game road trip – they circle back here on Saturday night, after a stop in Vancouver, in between – and kept the momentum going, after a come-from-behind victory over Toronto on Sunday.
“With the way our games have been going, you’re never sure what to expect,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. “I think it was probably a very entertaining game for the fans. Maybe not so much for both teams when it comes to the structure part of it.”
Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry scored for the Ducks in the shootout.
“He is so good,” Zegras said of Terry. “I just copy his move, honestly. I just go first so it looks like he copies me. He does that move every time.”
The three Sharks’ shooters were forwards Logan Couture and Kevin Lebanc and defenseman Erik Karlsson and the only one to beat Ducks goalie Anthony Stolarz was Couture.
Karlsson, who is having a compelling turn-back-the-clock season, had a hat trick and added an assist, and leads NHL defensemen in scoring with 15 points in 12 games.
“He looks like he’s got some renewed vigor in him,” Eakins said. “It seems like every shot he takes is able to find its way through to the net. I’ll be honest – I did not love seeing him come out there as that third shooter. Good on (Stolarz) to shut that door.”
Stolarz said he had some intel when it came to the shootout.
“As a defenseman, he’s got some crafty hands,” Stolarz said. “We’ve got some video that runs before the game that shows their moves. I kind of had an idea of what he was going to do. Once he came up that right side, I knew I wanted to throw that stick out there to kind of put a little panic in him and force him to make a shot.”
With Sharks goalie Kaapo Kahkonen pulled for an extra attacker, Karlsson completed the hat trick with 2:12 remaining in regulation, tying it at 5-all. Earlier, Max Comtois gave the Ducks the lead at 11:31 of the third period, breaking the 4-4 tie. It was just his second goal of the season.
There was offense from plenty of sources: Ducks forward Adam Henrique had gone nine games without a goal and scored twice in the first period. The Ducks’ other goals came from Frank Vatrano and Ryan Strome.
“It’s nice to get on the board – a tough start,” Henrique said. “Some bad luck, some bad bounces or whatever. Just trying to stick with it. Put in the work, day in and day out. Keep trying to push through when it’s seemingly not going in. Nice to get two there but better to get the win.”
Sharks coach David Quinn described his team’s play as “sloppier than normal.”
“It was an up-and-down game,” Quinn said. “It had a little bit of a pond-hockey feel to it. It was entertaining, but it’s certainly not the way we’re going to have any success if we play like that – and I think our guys realize that.”
Despite his individual performance, Karlsson expressed disappointment with the result, “I don’t think it was a very good hockey match, but we’ve got to learn to play in these too. Unfortunately, we can’t find a way to get two points, which is the most important thing. The other stuff doesn’t really matter.”
The Sharks and Ducks (3-6-1) combined for five goals in the opening period, three in the second, and Comtois and Karlsson were the goal-scorers in the third period. This one had a bit of everything, including an own goal by the Ducks’ Jakob Silfverberg, who shot the puck into his own net on a clearing attempt at 15:31 in the second period, which tied it 4-4. Officially, the unassisted goal went to the Sharks’ Timo Meier.
Jamie Drysdale’s status remains uncertain for Ducks pending test results
“It was a weird play,” Meier said. “Lucky on my side. Bad luck on his side. There’ve been some other moments where the puck hasn’t gone in for me, so you got to just stick with it – and you’ll take one like that for sure.”
Meier gave the Ducks credit for pulling out the game in the shootout, saying: “They’ve got some pretty skilled players over there who have some good moves. It came down to that. But 100 percent – really frustrating to lose this game.”
For only the second time this season, Stolarz got the start in goal, giving John Gibson a rare night off. Stolarz was after his first win of the season – he’d been 0-1, with a 3.58 GAA and a .892 save percentage going into the game. He faced 44 shots, and, on top of everything else, had to deal with a skate blade that popped out in the third period.
Stolarz came into the game with superb career numbers against the Sharks: Before Tuesday, he was 5-1-0, which included one shutout and a 1.79 GAA and a .946 save percentage in seven career games against San Jose.
The Ducks have now won two in a row and edged ahead of the Sharks in the Pacific Division standings. There’s still a long way to go to get back to .500 or to even consider themselves in playoff contention, but considering where they were 72 hours ago, this was a step in the right direction.
