Ottawa rallies in third period to upset San Jose, 4-2

SAN JOSE – San Jose slipped five points off the pace of second wild card Minnesota in the Western Conference Saturday night with a 4-2 setback to the visiting Ottawa Senators.
Prior to Thursday’s 3-2 loss to Detroit, the Sharks held a 19-1-3 record when leading after two periods. Twin losses leave San Jose with 19 games left in the regular season going into Monday night’s home date with the Montreal Canadiens.
As in the Detroit game. San Jose held a 2-1 lead going into the second intermission against Ottawa.
The Senators, bringing in a four-game winning streak, drew even on right wing Mark Stone’s goal at 3:52 of the third period. Linemate Kyle Turris pounced on a Shark turnover at the San Jose blueline. Turris’ hard shot produced a short rebound that Stone converted for his 15^th goal of the season.
While rookie goaltender Andrew Hammond kept the Sharks off the scoresheet in the third period, the Senators struck for the decider at 7:59 with a power-play goal. Center Mika Zibanejad’s long shot from the right point bounded off the endboards to teammate Mike Hoffman at the left goalline for the putback past goaltender Antti Niemi.
San Jose pulled Niemi out of the net for an extra skater with 80 seconds left. Ottawa sidetracked that offensive move by adding an empty-netter 10 seconds later from Hoffman, the Senators’ leading scorer.
“When you get up on a team, you have to find a way to bury them,” San Jose forward Tommy Wingels said. “Time’s ticking away. It’s frustrating, definitely.”
Wingels gave San Jose a 1-0 lead 2:27 into the first period. Defenseman Matt Irwin approached the Ottawa net from the left side, whipping a shot from the face-off dot that Hammond kicked away. Wingels, at the crease, was able to pull the puck to the slot and jam it over Hammond.
The Senators made it 1-1 when captain Erik Karlsson scored at 7:29 of the second period. Turris ignited the play by ripping a low shot that caromed off the endboards to an unmarked Karlsson for the slapshot from the right circle.
Patrick Marleau’s power play goal at 13:19 of the second period ended the Sharks’ scoring. Brent Burns sent a low shot from the blueline that Joe Pavelski tipped toward the net. Marleau was at the left post to jam in the rebound for his 14^th goal of the season.