Damon Severson scored the shootout winner to give the visiting New Jersey Devils a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.
Ryan Graves and Janne Kuokkanen scored in regulation for the Devils, who ended a three-game California road trip on a positive and snapped a three-game losing skid. Goaltender Jonathan Bernier made 25 saves through overtime and two of three opponents in the shootout.
New Jersey twice erased deficits.
Rudolfs Balcers and Jonathan Dahlen replied for the Sharks, who were battling through a plethora of players out of action due to a COVID-19 outbreak that raced through the dressing room and also left them without coach Bob Boughner.
Goalie James Reimer stopped 26 shots through overtime, but only one of three players he faced in the shootout. Brent Burns collected two assists.
After a scoreless opening frame, Balcers opened the scoring.
Mario Ferraro was in the corner when he spied his linemate racing to the far post and fired a blistering pass right on the tape that Balcers redirected for his second goal of the season at 4:48 of the second period. With his assist, Ferraro set a career best with a three-game point streak in which he has netted one goal and three assists.
Graves snapped a 17-game goal-less streak with his first of the season at the 16:45 mark of the frame to tie the score. Michael McLeod intercepted a pass attempt near his own blueline, raced down the wing before he dropped a pass to Nico Hischier, who sent a cross-ice pass that left Graves a yawning cage to hit.
Shortly after the Sharks killed a penalty, Dahlen scored a power-play goal at 4:21 of the third period. While the screen was set up in front of the net, Dalen ripped a wrist shot through the screen from the top of the right circle for his fifth goal of the campaign.
However, Kuokkanen tied the game with 2:56 remaining in regulation. Amidst a wild scramble, Kuokkanen corralled the loose puck and buried the chance from the slot for his second goal of the season.
–Field Level Media
