The Sharks took a trip to Las Vegas around Christmastime, and like a lot of revelers in Sin City this time of year, they’ll be leaving with less than they arrived with.
San Jose fell down from the get-go on Tuesday night against the Golden Knights and could not stop falling further behind, ultimately losing 7-2 after going down five goals after the first period.
It was a first period the Sharks (17-17-3) will have no problem leaving in Vegas. Brett Howden scored the first goal for the Golden Knights (17-8-10) on an odd-man rush less than two minutes into the contest, then Mitch Marner doubled the lead when his pass across the crease deflected off Alex Wennberg’s skate and in.
Colton Sissons added a goal on another two-on-one, then former Shark Tomas Hertl deposited a puck in the back of the net after a turnover below the Vegas goal line.
Mark Stone finished off the period with a beautiful in-and-out move after a give-and-go with Ivan Barbashev, putting the Golden Knights up 5-0 with 1:26 remaining in the frame.
Vegas hadn’t scored five goals in a game since Oct. 28. The Golden Knights are now 11-0-1 in their last 12 games against the Sharks.
Macklin Celebrini finally made a dent on the scoreboard for San Jose in the second period, scoring on a quick pass from Tyler Toffoli 6:49 into the middle frame. The quick shot gave Celebrini 55 points this season, tying him with Sidney Crosby for the most points scored by a teenager before Christmas in NHL history.
Vegas pushed the deficit back to five when Reilly Smith one-timed in a pass from Kaedan Korczak with 1:10 left in the second period.
Marner added the capper for Vegas with a tic-tac-toe goal after a three-on-two at 5:22 of the third period.
Collin Graf scored his second goal in as many games with a tally at the 8:04 mark of the third. It was Graf’s 10th goal of the year and his fourth in three games, extending his point streak to a fifth game.
The Sharks will now break for Christmas and will not be out on the ice during the NHL-mandated three-day stoppage.
They will return to action against Vancouver on Saturday.
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