Sharks rally with three third-period goals to sink Canucks

SAN JOSE · Will Smith scored twice and Mason Marchment netted the go-ahead goal just 11 seconds later as the San Jose Sharks stormed back for a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night. The Sharks scored all three of their goals in a span of two minutes and 50 seconds in the third period to erase a 2-0 deficit. Yaroslav Askarov made 23 saves for San Jose, which snapped an 0-for-4 power-play drought with Smith's first goal of the night. The win improved the Sharks' record to 7-6-1.

Drew O'Connor opened the scoring for Vancouver at 13:21 of the first period, converting a rebound after a San Jose turnover for his second goal of the season. Elias Pettersson assisted on the play after San Jose defenceman Dmitry Orlov was stripped of the puck on a clearing attempt. Liam Ohgren extended the Canucks' lead to 2-0 at 18:56 of the second period with his fourth goal of the season, assisted by Filip Hronek. The Canucks took that two-goal advantage into the second intermission to a chorus of boos from the home crowd at SAP Center.

Smith began the comeback at 8:00 of the third period, scoring on the power play to cut the deficit to 2-1. He tied the game with his second goal at 10:39, with Macklin Celebrini recording the assist for his 16th point of the season. Marchment then gave the Sharks their first lead of the night just 11 seconds later at 10:50, completing the rapid three-goal outburst. Marchment finished with a goal and an assist.

Askarov and the Sharks held off the Canucks the rest of the way to secure the win. Leevi Merilainen stopped 21 shots for Vancouver in the loss. The Canucks have now lost 11 of their last 12 games, having snapped a 10-game losing streak with their previous victory. Vancouver fell to 3-11-1 and remains last in the Pacific Division with seven points. The Sharks now lead the season series 1-0 and sit fourth in the Pacific with 15 points.

With files from The Globe and Mail, Yahoo Sports and The Killeen Daily Herald