SAN JOSE — The Sharks generated the kind of quality offensive chances they were looking for Thursday night in their first game of the season without Joe Thornton. Their problem, though, was preventing those same golden opportunities in their own end of the rink.
The Sharks allowed three straight second period goals, including one on the power play and another shorthanded, in a 6-5 loss to the New York Rangers at SAP Center, their final game before the start of the NHL’s all-star break this weekend.
Sharks goalie Aaron Dell allowed five goals on 23 shots in the first two periods, marking the first time in 42-career NHL appearances that he’s given up more than two goals in back-to-back games.