Labanc’s Overtime Goal Lifts Sharks Over Canucks 5-4
Dec 22, 2017, 12:00 AM | Updated: Jan 4, 2019, 11:22 am
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
It took just one goal for the San Jose Sharks to take home the win over rival Vancouver Canucks.
Tied at 4 in overtime, Kevin Lebanc slapped in the game-winner at 1:53 to lift his team up over the Canucks 5-4.
Labanc, who had three assists and a NHL career-high four points, put in the goal from a Tomas Hertl pass from the corner.
“Felt good,” said Labanc, who ended a 23-game goalless streak. “Felt better winning the game. They came back on us so we were a little bit worried, but it was nice to get two points and better ourselves in the standings.”
Sharks center Joe Thornton scored two power-play goals and had an assist, scoring in the first two periods.
Hertl had a power-play goal, and Timo Meier also scored for San Jose.
Brendan Gaunce scored the first goal of the game for Vancouver just 1:58 in.
Jake Virtanen, Brock Boeser and Daniel Sedin also scored for Vancouver, which lost for the seventh time in its past eight games. Their win came over the Sharks just six days prior with an overtime goal.
“A point’s big, but we definitely feel we could’ve won that game,” Boeser said. “Obviously we need to clean up some special teams there.”
San Jose moved ahead 4-3 when Hertl scored on a 5-on-3 at 18:56 of the second period but Sedin answered with a goal from the right circle at 2:09 of the third to make it 4-4.
This setup the opportunity for Lebanc to shine in overtime with his fourth goal of the season.
Aaron Dell was in the net for the Sharks and recorded 36 saves of the Canucks 40 shots on goal.
Jacob Markstrom was goaltender for the Canucks and recorded 27 saves on 32 shots on goal.
- Center Logan Couture, who leads the Sharks in goals (15) and points (26), missed his second straight game with a concussion.
- Sharks forward Joel Ward was scratched. He was replaced by Danny O’Regan.
- Canucks forward Henrik Sedin had an assist and has nine assists in a six-game point streak.
- Canucks defenseman Ben Hutton and forward Nikolay Goldobin, a former Shark, were scratched for the second straight game.
San Jose Sharks (18-11-4) will host the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. Face-off is set for 7:00pm PST.
Vancouver Canucks (15-16-5) will host the St Louis Blues on Saturday. Face-off is set for 7:00pm PST.
