Goalie Kaapo Kahkonen looked solid as he made 35 saves in his first start in a week Saturday but the San Jose Sharks’ season-long offensive woes continued with a 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center.
Kahkonen stopped 28 of 30 shots in the first two periods but only Kevin Labanc was able to score for the Sharks, who now have two goals or less in regulation time in each of their seven games so far.
The Sharks, who were hoping to build on Thursday’s overtime win over the New York Rangers, were once again outscored in the second period. They allowed an even-strength goal to Yegor Sharangovich at the 13:21 mark and a power play goal to Dawson Mercer just 2:22 later as the Devils took a 2-0 lead.
Labanc responded for San Jose with his first goal of the season with 3:45 left in the middle period, but the Sharks were unable to add a second goal.
The Sharks went 0-for-2 on the power play, which included a chance with the man advantage with under four minutes left in the third period.
The Sharks still have not scored a goal in the third period this season and top-line forwards Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier have now combined for one goal and three assists in the first seven games.
Mercer’s goal came after Evgeny Svechnikov was called for goalie interference at the 14:29 mark of the second, as the Sharks forward skated into the Devils’ crease and bowled over goalie Mackenzie Blackwood.
Mercer’s goal, which came after a pass from Nico Hischier, was the first power play marker the Sharks had allowed this season. The Sharks came into Saturday’s game 20-for-20 on the penalty kill and had also killed the first two penalties they took against the Devils.
The Sharks were also outshot 20-8 in the second period. For the season, they’ve been outscored 16-4 and outshot 103-51.
The Sharks (1-6-0), who have 12 goals in their seven games, finish their four-game road trip Sunday evening in Philadelphia against the Flyers.
The Sharks were looking to win back-to-back games for the first time since near the end of last season when they beat the Chicago Blackhawks at home and the Vegas Golden Knights on the road in overtime on April 23 and 24, respectively.
Kahkonen got his first start in a week after he allowed five goals on 25 shots in the Sharks’ 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks last Saturday at SAP Center.
Kahkonen wasn’t helped a ton by the skaters in front of him that night, as the power play allowed two goals against, but he still carried a .814 save percentage into Saturday’s game in Newark after two starts.
Kahkonen had to make 10 saves in the first period, including two on the penalty kill. The Sharks also had some trouble early in the game dealing with New Jersey’s speed, which led to some quality Devils chances.
