SAN JOSE — The Rising Phoenix Dragon and Line Dance Association performed during the first and second intermissions of Saturday night’s game between the Sharks and Florida Panthers at SAP Center, part of the home team’s celebration of the Lunar New Year.
It was probably the night’s highlight for the Sharks fans in attendance, who were otherwise subjected to the home team’s most lopsided home loss of the season.
The Sharks allowed three goals in the first period and four more in an especially disheartening second period in a 7-2 loss to the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers before an announced crowd of 17,435 at the downtown arena.
Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and two assists and three of his teammates had two points each as the Panthers earned their 12th straight win over the Sharks, a streak that began during the 2018-19 season.
Sharks starting goalie Alexandar Georgiev, in a shaky performance, was pulled at the 3:01 mark of the second period after allowing four goals on 15 shots. Yaroslav Askarov came on in relief and but did not fare much better, as he allowed three goals on 16 shots.
Both goalies could have finished with better statistics had the skaters in front of them been able to keep up with the Panthers, who demoralized the Sharks and silenced the sold-out crowd. Defense has been a season-long problem for the Sharks, but it’s been especially brutal lately, with San Jose allowing six goals or more in four straight games.
Cody Ceci and Will Smith both scored for the Sharks, who will carry a six-game losing streak into Monday’s date with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Sharks trailed 3-2 after the first period as Georgiev allowed goals to Nate Schmidt, Sam Bennett, and A.J. Greer.
The Sharks unsuccessfully challenged Bennett’s goal at the 14:27 mark, believing Georgiev was interfered with by Greer. But after a brief review, the NHL confirmed that Greer was making a play on a loose puck and the contact with Georgiev did not constitute goaltender interference.
The decision was made per Rule 69.7, which states, in part, the goal on the ice should have been allowed because “in a rebound situation, or where a goalkeeper and attacking player(s) are simultaneously attempting to play a loose puck, whether inside or outside the crease, incidental contact will be permitted, and any goal that is scored as a result thereof will be allowed.”
Bennett’s goal tied the game 2-2 and the unsuccessful challenge gave the Panthers a power play. The Sharks killed the delay of game call, but just 41 seconds after the penalty expired, Ekblad got a shot off from just inside the blue line. The puck appeared to change direction before it sailed past Georgiev for a 3-2 Panthers lead.