The San Jose Sharks defeated the New Jersey Devils 3-2 on Saturday thanks to a goal from Cody Ceci with 24 seconds remaining in the third period.
Ceci’s slap shot from the point beat Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom with the score knotted at two.
Markstrom made 21 stops for New Jersey, while Yaroslav Askarov stopped 28 shots for San Jose.
On his first shift of the third period, Macklin Celebrini gave the Sharks a 2-1 lead with a strong wrist shot, but Paul Cotter responded for the Devils.
After joining the Sharks in a trade last month, Nikolai Kovalenko scored his first goal late in the first period. On his 26th birthday, Nico Hischier deflected the puck in off a pass from Jack Hughes to tie the game in the second on the power play.
Takeaways
Devils: After a six-game road trip in which they dropped four straight games, the Devils are still struggling to settle into a routine after the holiday break.
Sharks: After defeating the Lightning on Thursday to end an eight-game losing streak, the Sharks triumphed over a second straight playoff team. The Sharks are giving their future goalie more experience, and Askarov, who had a flawless third period on Thursday, looked good in his second consecutive start.
Key moment
In the latter seconds of the third, Jonas Siegenthaler collapsed in the corner with the puck in the Devils’ zone. Alexander Wennberg of the Sharks grabbed the puck and threw it high to Ceci, who slapped it in after it slipped under Markstrom’s glove.
Key stat
Celebrini topped rookies with his 13th goal of the season. He started the game tied with Matvei Michkov of the Flyers.
Up next
On Monday, the Devils travel to the Kraken, and on Tuesday, the Sharks play the Golden Knights.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.