Karlsson Scores 4 Points, Sharks Stun Stars in 5-3 Comeback

The San Jose Sharks welcome in the Dallas Stars and Joe Pavelski to SAP Center. The Stars raced out to a 3-0 lead, but Steven Lorentz, Nick Bonino, Timo Meier, and Erik Karlsson scored four unanswered goals to lead a dramatic Sharks comeback.

Period 1

Stars 7-0 shots through 6 minutes. San Jose Sharks forecheck not doing much so far.

Dellandrea goal: You need a stop from Reimer there. Megna has Heiskanen walled off, looked like a clear view.

7 in: Robertson pickpockets Vlasic in slot, ugly, but to the defenseman’s credit, he’s able to turn and take it from Robertson. Heavy stick on Robertson as he’s about to shoot, prevents contact with puck, then Vlasic takes it.

9 in: Megna pinches, Eyssimont there to cover. First genuine San Jose Sharks chances there. Karlsson shot deflects off Meier, off side of net.

8 left: Good job by Gregor on PK to fight off Gurianov, get it out along wall.

5 left: Sharks starting to come around after slow start. Eyssimont crossbar.

Megna cross-check: I think Marchment goes down very easy. But hey, got his team a power play.

Looks like Ryan Warsofsky takes a stray puck to the head. #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/MOc5UL4na7

— JD Young (@MyFryHole) January 19, 2023

Quinn called for immediate medical assistance. Good thing that Warsofsky able to walk off on his own, with assistance from #SJSharks head trainer Ray Tufts pic.twitter.com/VqaUIfA1nN

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 19, 2023

Warsofsky Leaves Game After Taking Puck to Face

San Jose Sharks blanked in Slot Shots 3-0. Don’t see much zest from them tonight so far.

Period 2

3 in: Lindell just says no to a Eyssimont foray at Oettinger. Lindblom had a solid distribution shift at tail-end of PP there.

Robertson goal: Ferraro and Lorentz go toward Miller, leaving Robertson open in slot. Gregor, watching point, shades toward Robertson a tick slow to help, but I wouldn’t put it all on him. Two Sharks going at one Star.

5 in: Megna skating a lot but not going anywhere with the puck, gives it up at blueline.

Faksa goal: It starts with an NZ turnover, Hertl can’t find Eyssimont pass in his skates, but then, when he finds it momentarily, not quick enough with his decision-making. Stars take and counterattack, it goes off Meier’s leg past Reimer. That’s what happens when you turn it over in the NZ.

9 in: Well, this might be the first game that I’ve seen this year that PP2 is better than PP1.

Lorentz goal: Outstanding play by Gregor to simply outquick Marchment to loose puck, then hit Lorentz in the slot.

Bonino goal: Beaut Karlsson stretch pass to Barabanov, who does a great job to find Bonino in front. Good net drive by Bonino.

Bonino only scores in bunches: Had a 4-game goal-scoring streak earlier this year, now has 3 goals in his last 4 games

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 19, 2023

7 left: Fabulous pass by Lindblom to Hertl attacking down slot, Hertl dekes two Stars out their pants, almost scores.

After 1:34 of #SJSharks power play waiting for a perfect shot, Meier takes a decidedly imperfect shot, probably looking for a shot-pass to Couture, that deflects off a Star past Oettinger

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 19, 2023

3 left: That is a bold pinch from Karlsson. No problem with it, but your team has to be aware, and Barabanov was in covering.

2 left: Gregor better tonight than against New Jersey. I like him going middle to outside back to middle from blueline to blueline, Lindell flummoxed.

1 left: Interesting Hertl shift, from behind Reimer, tries to force puck through Stars forecheck, gets through, but scare. Then brilliantly able to find Eyssimont in front by himself from point, Stars forgot about Mikey. I’d say that I think Hertl forcing play too much this year and might have to adjust game a little? That’s the turnovers.

Eyssimont tripping: He trips Heiskanen, refs are emphatic on the call, but it looked like he tripped Heiskanen as he was falling after getting tripped.

5-5 Slot Shots in 2nd, San Jose Sharks alive after a moribund start.

Let's see if Sharks can do more than set their fans up for heartbreak tonight

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 19, 2023

Period 3

5 in: Megna or Vlasic with an opportunistic pinch to Gadjovich. Sharks have had a push to start the final frame. Have enjoyed Gadjovich’s simple but direct game this year.

7 in: Reimer with a stand, shots from perimeter, but he’s turning them aside.

8 in: Hertl royal road to Meier, but Oettinger waiting.

Karlsson goal: Outstanding defensive shift from Bonino, he put a stick on a Stars pass to point in DZ, disrupted Stars in NZ, then found Karlsson off to side. Lulled Stars to sleep up top, then hit Karlsson. That’s a skill play.

2 left: Karlsson closes hard on Robertson in corner.

Really nice 5-on-6 work by the San Jose Sharks. Wow haven’t seen that a lot from them. Then Eyssimont (!) out there in clutch situation picks Stars point man high, clears path for a Couture ENG.