SAN JOSE, Calif. – Alexander Barabanov scored with 3:18 remaining in overtime and the San Jose Sharks handed Carolina Hurricanes its third loss of the season with a 2-1 victory over the Hurricanes.
Kevin Labanc tied the game early in the third before Barabanov won just after a power play expired to give San Jose its second win in the past six games.
“This is a huge team win,” coach Bob Boughner said according to AP. “It´s tough saying that after 18 games or whatever, but team confidence is huge.”
The Sharks went more than 135 minutes without a goal before breaking through late against Antti Raanta and the Hurricanes.
San Jose got its first power play of the game when Brett Pesce was sent off for tripping with 21.2 seconds left in regulation. The Sharks couldn’t convert until just after Pesce returned to the ice.
Tomas Hertl sent the puck to Barabanov, who was alone at the side of the net for the tap in that won it. Barabanov had been sent to the dressing room in the first period after a hard hit but returned to deliver the game-winner.
“He´s been hit hard lately, (but) he keeps getting up and coming back,” Boughner said.
Carolina had won four straight road games and 14 of 16 overall on the season before blowing a third-period lead to San Jose.
Tony DeAngelo scored the lone goal for the Hurricanes and Raanta made 25 saves.
James Reimer made 22 saves for San Jose and was helped out by 23 blocked shots by his teammates in front of him.
“They blocked a lot,” DeAngelo said. “They were in the lane. They had two layers. They had the first guy blocking the point man and the second in front of the net. We just didn´t get bounces. A lot of times when teams do that it will hit somebody and right to one of our guys. But no bounces tonight. It is what it is.”
After a scoreless first period, the Hurricanes got on the board early in the second after the Sharks botched a two-on-one rush that didn’t even lead to a shot attempt.
Carolina went back the other way and DeAngelo had his shot from the top circle blocked by Mario Ferraro. The puck then made its way back to Ferraro, who inadvertently deflected it right to DeAngelo, who didn’t miss this time and beat Reimer for his fourth goal.
But that was all Reimer gave up as he lowered his goals against average to 1.87 on the season.
“He´s been solid for us all year,” defenseman Erik Karlsson said. “He´s coming in with a great attitude. Even if one squeaks by him in doesn´t really affect him. … That obviously gives the bench and the players on the ice a bit more confidence.”
After a few good chances for San Jose were thwarted by Raanta in the second, Labanc broke through in the third with a wrister from the circle that snapped San Jose’s long scoreless streak. It was Labanc’s first even-strength point of the season.
