SAN JOSE – The Sharks scored three goals on their first six shots of the preseason and earned a 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday at SAP Center.
Defenseman Henry Thrun had three points in the first period, including a goal just 24 seconds in as his wrist shot from just inside the blue line got past Golden Knights goalie Jiri Patera.
Thrun also assisted on Tomas Hertl’s goal at the 9:03 mark of the first period and scored on another shot from the point on a power play with 40 seconds left before intermission, helping the Sharks win their exhibition season opener before an announced crowd of 9,785.
Forward Nathan Todd and defenseman Kyle Burroughs also scored for San Jose, which, like Vegas, only dressed a handful of players who are still expected to be in the NHL when the two teams meet Oct. 12 in the regular season opener.
Starting goalie Kaapo Kahkonen, in his second full season with the Sharks, made 32 saves, including 19 in the first two periods. Kahkonen is expected to split time in net this season with Mackenzie Blackwood, who was acquired by the Sharks in June from New Jersey for a 2023 sixth-round draft pick.
The Sharks dressed a handful of players they acquired in the offseason, with their top line featuring Hertl between new wingers Mike Hoffman and Filip Zadina. Forwards Anthony Duclair and Givani Smith also dressed, and Thrun was paired with Jan Rutta, who was acquired from Pittsburgh in August as part of the trade that sent Erik Karlsson to the Penguins.
Burroughs, who signed a three-year, $3.3 million deal with the Sharks as a free agent on July 1, was paired with Jake Furlong, a 2022 draft pick, and had the biggest hit of the night.
In the second period, with Max Comtois coming across the blue line, Burroughs stuck out his hip and leveled the Golden Knights forward shortly after he released the puck. Burroughs got a two-minute minor for interference and Comtois, on a professional tryout, was shaken up but was later OK.
The Sharks’ preseason continues Tuesday night at home against the Anaheim Ducks.
Source: www.mercurynews.com