Askarov Outduels Meriläinen as Sharks Edge Canucks 3-2
San Jose beat Vancouver 3-2 at home, and the gap between the two goalies was the gap on the scoreboard.
The shot counts were dead even, with both teams attempting 49 shots, but the Sharks got the slightly better looks. Their chances were worth 3.10 expected goals (how many goals the chances should produce), compared with 2.62 for the Canucks.
Yaroslav Askarov made 23 saves on 25 shots and gave up fewer goals than Vancouver's chances deserved. He was worth 0.62 goals saved above expected, meaning roughly half a goal better than an average night. At the other end, Leevi Meriläinen stopped 21 of 24 and let in a little more than San Jose's looks warranted.
Will Smith scored twice. Mason Marchment had a goal and an assist on a line with Smith and Michael Misa. Jake DeBrusk rang a shot off the post that might have tied it.
The Sharks snap a two-game skid and move to 7-6-1. Vancouver, still at the bottom of the West, could not build on its comeback in Anaheim.
