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National Hockey League
Florida 3, San Jose 2
When: 10:30 PM ET, Tuesday, March 15, 2022
Where: SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, California
Referees: Michael Markovic, Brad Meier
Linesmen: Libor Suchanek, Killian McNamara
Attendance: 12276

Frank Vatrano scored two goals, including the winner just over a minute into overtime, as the visiting Florida Panthers rallied for a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.

Jonathan Huberdeau also scored for the Panthers and Spencer Knight had 24 saves as Florida improved to 1-1-0 at the start of a season-long seven game road trip. The Panthers had won five consecutive games before hitting the road.

Vatrano's game-winning shot from the deep slot beat Sharks goalie James Reimer on the glove side. It was Vatrano's 10th goal of the season. Florida entered the final period down a goal but rallied by outshooting the Sharks 18-3 over the final 20 minutes and overtime.

Logan Couture and Nicolas Meloche each scored first-period goals, but the Sharks could not get their offense going late while missing out on their first three-game winning streak in two months.

Reimer, who missed the last four games while dealing with a lower-body injury, made 31 saves but could not survive the Panthers' late onslaught.

In a busy first period, Couture gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead 8:19 into the game when he scored his 20th of the season on the power play. It came off a redirection from just in front of the Panthers' goal. Couture now has nine seasons with at least 20 goals.

Three minutes later, Huberdeau tied the game for the Panthers with a short-handed goal, his 19th score of the season. It was Florida's NHL-leading ninth short-handed goal of the season.

Meloche put San Jose up 2-1 at 13:58 of the first period when his shot from the top of the right circle beat Knight, even without any traffic in front of the goal.

After a scoreless second period, the Panthers tied the game 2-all at 3:29 of the third period, when Vatrano ripped a rolling puck past Reimer.

Before the game, the Sharks honored longtime standout Joe Thornton with a video tribute. The 42-year-old, who opened the game on the first line for the Panthers, scored 251 goals with 804 assists over 15 seasons in San Jose, during a run that ended in 2019-20.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Florida   San Jose
Frank Vatrano 2 Points Tomas Hertl 2
Frank Vatrano 2 Goals Logan Couture 1
Noel Acciari 1 Assists Tomas Hertl 2
N/A Power Play Goals Logan Couture 1
Jonathan Huberdeau 1 Short Handed Goals N/A
Spencer Knight .923 Save Percentage James Reimer .912
Spencer Knight 24 Saves James Reimer 31
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Florida 34 3 0-2 4-5 14 27
San Jose 26 2 1-5 2-2 8 33
Upcoming Games
  • San Jose will play their next game on the road against Los Angeles. The Sharks have a W/L % of .444 after a win and .438 after a loss.
  • Florida will play their next game on the road against Vegas. The Panthers have a W/L % of .725 after a win and .600 after a loss.