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Bo Groulx scored the lone goal for Anaheim and now has goals in each of his first two preseason appearances. John Gibson and Anthony Stolarz combined to stop 29-of-32 shots in the setback. Jeffrey Viel, Ryan Merkley and Kevin Labanc scored for the Sharks.
Anaheim now sits 1-2-0 in the preseason.
The game got off to a quick start as Viel and Sam Carrick dropped the gloves for a spirited scrap ten seconds after puck drop.
Carrick's tenacity seemed to spark Anaheim's lineup as minutes after he and Viel exchanged actual punches, the Ducks threw the game's first proverbial blow with a shorthanded goal. Gibson played the puck ahead to Buddy Robinson on right wing, leading the offseason acquisition ahead on an odd-man rush with Groulx. Robinson took his time to freeze the defense before sliding a perfect pass to the rookie center, who lifted the puck just under the crossbar to give Anaheim the early lead.
Groulx proved to be a shorthanded force in his rookie campaign with San Diego a season ago, leading the AHL in shorthanded points (four) and co-setting the Gulls rookie record for shorthanded goals (two).
The Ducks have scored the opening goal in each of their first three preseason contests.
Anaheim could not maintain the early advantage though as San Jose scored late in the first period and again in the middle frame to lead 2-1 at the second intermission.
San Jose added a power-play tally in the third period to seal its 3-1 win.
Anaheim hits the road for the first time this preseason, visting the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday, Oct. 2 (3 p.m.) at Gila River Arena.
