SAN JOSE – Coach Todd McLellan was succinct after watching his San Jose Sharks drop a 5-4 decision to the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets Thursday at sold-out SAP Center.
“Obviously, (our defense) has to improve or we’re in trouble.”
The Sharks created a three-game losing streak when the Jackets reacted to a 4-3 San Jose lead in the third period by posting two goals in the final nine minutes, including the decider with 20.7 seconds left.
“Too many mistakes end up in the back of our net,” said Shark forward Logan Couture.
After San Jose tallied two goals in the first period, the Jackets solved goaltender Antti Niemi for three unanswered goals in the second period.
The Sharks drew even at 3-3 with 2:05 gone in the third period when Joe Pavelski turned a Joe Thornton pass into a low shot inside the left post from the bottom of the right circle.
Couture followed with his fourth goal of the season at 8:23 for the brief 4-3 San Jose advantage. Couture was pressing in the Columbus zone when he picked off a pass from defenseman Cody Goloubef and jammed a shot from close range into the net.
Brent Burns was called for high-sticking at 11:04, putting Columbus on a power play. The visitors scored 36 seconds later when Nick Foligno, at the top of the crease, tapped the puck past Niemi off a centering kick by a nearby prone Scott Hartnell.
“The power play goal was a mistake in coverage,” said Couture.
Columbus managed only two shots on net in the final eight minutes, but a final flurry into the Sharks zone made the Sharks pay.
Foligno’s low shot from the top of the right circle was wide of the net, but Mark Letestu scored his second goal of the game when he was able to push the puck inside the right post.
“Our defensive play is killing us,” said McLellan. “Give (goals) a night is unacceptable.”
The first period was dominated by the Sharks, producing two goals on a 16-5 edge in shots on net.
Adam Burnish buried his first goal in 48 games when he snapped a shot from above the left dot over the shoulder of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky 5:11 into the game. Jason Demers drew the lone assist as Burnish controlled the puck from the blueline to the left circle before making it a 1-0 Shark lead.
San Jose improved to 2-0 by scoring on its first power play of the night. Blue Jacket Matt Calvert went to the box for high-sticking at 13:37. By the 14:44 mark, Joe Pavelski had his third goal of the game when he set up at the edge of the crease and redirected a shot from Logan Couture.
Patrick Marleau had the second assist, giving the forward 500 career NHL assists.
The second period went to the Blue Jackets. Ryan Johansen scored
even-strength goals at 8:22 and 14:36, sandwiched around a short-handed goal from Letestu
San Jose hosts Buffalo Saturday at 1:00pm
