Tkachuk has three assists, Panthers rally to top Sharks in shootout

SAN JOSE -- Matthew Tkachuk had three assists, and the Florida Panthers rallied to defeat the San Jose Sharks 4-3 in a shootout at SAP Center on Thursday.

Carter Verhaeghe tied it 3-3 for the Panthers with 1:22 remaining in the third period, taking a pass from Tkachuk from behind the net and scoring from below the left circle.
"We've had so many games this year where I felt we just dominated the games and couldn't find a way to put one in," Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. "We were due for something good like this."

Aleksander Barkov and Radko Gudas scored, Anton Lundell had two assists, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 36 saves for the Panthers (6-4-1), who have won seven straight against the Sharks dating to Jan. 21, 2019. Sam Reinhart scored in the fourth round of the shootout.
"It was one of those nights when it's the goalie competition, you know, especially the overtime and shootouts," Bobrovsky said. "I have fun in those games."
Erik Karlsson had a goal and two assists, Timo Meier and Matt Benning scored, and James Reimer made 41 saves for the Sharks (3-8-2).
"It's unfortunate they ended up tying it up on a perfect shot," Karlsson said. "But that's the way that goes sometimes. It's another tough loss for us. But I think that we showed a few things that we haven't before."
The Panthers went on a five-minute power play at 9:14 of the first period after Luke Kunin hit Patric Hornqvist high with his shoulder. The Sharks forward was issued a major penalty and a game misconduct for an illegal check to the head. Hornqvist did not return, and Maurice did not have an update after the game.

Barkov gave Florida a 1-0 lead at 13:43 with 31 seconds left on Kunin's major.
"Any time you get a five-minute major, that really skews the period," Sharks coach David Quinn said.
Gudas made it 2-0 at 15:50 of the second period with his first goal of the season, a slap shot from the left point off a Tkachuk pass.
Meier brought the Sharks within 2-1 at 1:04 of the third period, scoring with a one-timer from the right circle off a pass from Alexander Barabanov while skating 5-on-3.
"We got the 5-on-3 early and capitalized on it and got some momentum," Karlsson said. "I think we did a great job of generating chances and playing to tie up the game, which we did, and we kept going."

Karlsson tied it 2-2 at 6:34 on a wrist shot off a face-off win. It was his 10th goal in 13 games this season after scoring 10 in 50 games in 2021-22.
"I think we slowed our game down," Reinhart said. "A little bit too much standing around watching, and they swarmed us."
Benning gave the Sharks a 3-2 lead at 11:48 with a shot from the blue line after Karlsson set him up with a between-the-legs pass.
"I think we've made strides, and we're scoring more goals, for sure," Quinn said. "We're playing better hockey, obviously. We've got to cut down on the goals we're giving up, but I do like the fact that we are scoring more goals."
NOTES:Meier has four goals in his past four games. … Karlsson has 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in a four-game point streak. … Benning goal was his first with San Jose since signing a four-year contract July 13.