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SAN JOSE — Erik Karlsson returned to game action and logged a decent workload as the Sharks wrapped up the 2018-19 regular season by locking down second place in the Western Conference.
Karlsson suited up for his first game since Feb. 26 on Saturday, skating for 22:01 as the Sharks topped the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 at SAP Center.
The two-time Norris Trophy winner skated cautiously as he returned from a groin injury that forced him out of the Sharks previous 17 games. The game served as a tune up for the Stanley Cup playoffs, which kick off on Wednesday, as Karlsson displayed signs of rust after being sidelined for nearly six weeks. Still, Karlsson finished the game with a plus-3 rating, recording two shots on goal.
After Tyson Jost opened the scoring by hitting the back of the net on the Avalanche’s first shot at 2:56 of the first, the Sharks netted back-to-back goals to carry a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
Brent Burns tied the game at 7:25, potting his 16th goal with a 62-foot wrist shot from the point off a faceoff play. Tomas Hertl picked up the assist by winning the draw. Evander Kane put the Sharks ahead at 11:15 by scoring his 30th, punching in the rebound of a Gus Nyquist shot from the doorstep. Brenden Dillon earned his 100th NHL point by recording the secondary assist.
The tally gave the Sharks four 30-goal scorers, a feat last achieved by the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers during the 2008-09 season. As a result, Kane hit the 30-goal mark for the second time in his career (2011-12).
Nathan MacKinnon tied it at 2-2 just 89 seconds into the second, beating Martin Jones on his glove side after he weaved through the Sharks defense on a give-and-go play. The Sharks then took a 3-2 lead at 6:57 of the middle frame when Patrik Nemeth contested Kevin Labanc’s shot from slot, causing the puck to pop up and over Semyon Varlamov’s shoulder.
Micheal Haley iced the game by scoring an empty netter with 44 seconds left in regulation, his first goal since he rejoined the Sharks on Feb. 20.
Martin Jones made 28 saves as he snapped an eight-game streak in which he surrendered three or more goals.
The Sharks will return to action at SAP Center on Wednesday or Thursday, opening the Stanley Cup playoffs with Game 1 of their first-round series with the Vegas Golden Knights.
— Burns and Hertl were named as Sharks Foundation Co-Players of the Year. Radim Simek won the Sharks’ Rookie of the Year Award while Brenden Dillon earned the “Good Guy” Award for handling his media responsibilities with “cooperation, honesty and thoughtfulness.”
