“You knew they were going to push,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “They got a goal there at the end of the second, but I thought we did a really good job in all three zones. We were on it from the start.”
Yaroslav Askarov made 24 saves, and Tyler Toffoli and Mario Ferraro scored for the Sharks (12-23-6), who were 0-7-1 during the skid. Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic, who missed the first 40 games because of a shoulder injury, had an assist and was plus-1 in 11:56 of ice time in his season debut.
Sharks goalie Yaroslav shoots a pass up ice as Luke Glendening (11) applies pressure – Photo by Jack Lima
“It’s a lot of fun to play, it’s even more fun winning,” Vlasic said. “Guys are smiling. Guys played well tonight.”
Anthony Cirelli scored for the Lightning (20-13-2), who have lost two straight. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 23 saves.
“It was tough for us the first two periods,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. “Plays that guys normally make, we didn’t make them tonight for whatever reason.”
Sharks goalie Yaroslav reaches to covers the puck as defenseman Mario Ferraro provides support – Photo by Jack Lima
Toffoli put the Sharks in front 1-0 with his 15th goal of the season at 13:52 of the first period. Vlasic sent a backhand pass from the left boards to Toffoli, who toe-dragged Cirelli at the top of the right circle before beating Vasilevskiy glove side from the hash marks.
Ferraro increased the lead to 2-0 at 12:55 of the second period. He shot over Vasilevskiy’s glove from the low slot after his intended pass for Luke Kunin on the rush deflected back to him off the skate of Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons.
Sharks goalie Yaroslav makes a kick save on a shot from Nikita Kucherov (86) – Photo by Jack Lima
“I got the puck back, and I even fanned on the pass, and I got the puck back,” Ferraro said. “I should be grateful for the bounces that go my way, not just the ones that sometimes don’t.”
Cirelli cut it to 2-1 at 17:44 of the second. Erik Cernak skated into a pass from Brandon Hagel for a slap shot from the right point that Cirelli deflected over the blocker of Askarov.
“The execution wasn’t there from the start of the game,” Cernak said. “We know we have to be better. We’ve got to be ready to play.”
Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov (3) and Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren (37) dive for the rebound on a shot by Gage Goncalves (93) – Photo by Jack Lima
NOTES: Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman left the game at 9:03 of the third period after taking a puck to the ear. There was no update postgame. … Kunin played in his 400th NHL game. … Sharks forward Collin Graf played 11:54 in his season debut after being recalled from San Jose of the American Hockey League on Tuesday.
Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini (71) moves the puck up ice in front of Nikita Kucherov (86) – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks defenseman Henry Thrun(3) clears the puck away from Lightning forward Michael Eyssimont (23) – Photo by Jack Lima
Linesperson Caleb Apperson drops the puck on a faceoff between Luke Kunin (11) and Jake Guentzel (59) – Photo by Jack Lima
Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskly (88) covers the puck as Sharks Collin Graf (51) looks for a rebound – Photo by Jack Lima
Lightning forward Nick Paul (20) looses his helmet on a check from Marc-Edouard Vlassic (44) – Photo by Jack Lima
Lightning forward Brayden Point attempts to gain control of the puck during third period action – Photo by Jack Lima
Lightning Defenseman Emil Lilleberg (78) checks Sharks forward Will Smith (2) – Photo by Jack Lima
Anthony Cirelli (71) celebrates his second period goal with teammate Erik Cernak (81) – Photo by Jack Lima