Reimer makes 32 saves, Sharks defeat Capitals

WASHINGTON -- James Reimer made 32 saves for the San Jose Sharks in a 4-1 win against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Wednesday.

Reimer allowed four goals on 13 shots and was pulled in the first period of the Sharks' previous game, a 7-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
"Any time things don't go your way, you want to come back and play well or do what you can," Reimer said. "Obviously, you never know what's going to happen out there, but you want to try and bring your A game and let the chips fall where they fall."
Nicolas Meloche scored his first NHL goal for the Sharks (22-19-2), who had lost four of five (1-3-1) and were starting a four-game road trip.
"I don't know if I'd say it's the biggest [win] of the year, but it was definitely a response game," San Jose coach Bob Boughner said. "That's what we stressed the last couple days: showing up, responding and picking ourselves up off the floor."
Daniel Sprong scored for the Capitals (23-12-9), who have lost consecutive games in regulation for the first time this season and are 3-6-2 in January. Ilya Samsonov made 26 saves.

Sprong, who was a healthy scratch the previous three games, cut it to 2-1 with a wrist shot from the top of the left circle off a face-off win by Nicklas Backstrom 14 seconds into the third period.
"We had a lot of scoring chances. They're just not falling right now," Sprong said. "I think we've got to get a dirty one and then I think with this team that we have, we know we can score. There's going to be a game where it falls for us and it's going to break wide open."
Jonathan Dahlen pushed the lead 3-1 at 16:51 when he used defenseman Martin Fehervary as a screen and scored with a wrist shot from the right circle.
Andrew Cogliano shot into an empty net at 19:39 for the 4-1 final.
Noah Gregor gave San Jose a 1-0 lead at 7:41 of the first period, tapping in a centering pass from Brent Burns.
"I don't like the first half of the first period. We were outdone in too many areas," Washington coach Peter Laviolette said. "That's not good, we can't accept that. I thought the last eight minutes we got going a little bit. For me, the game was just OK. I think we're better than that."
Meloche made it 2-0 at 3:58 of the second period, scoring from the high slot on a rush after Matt Nieto intercepted a pass by Trevor van Riemsdyk in the neutral zone.

The 24-year-old defenseman's first goal came on his mother's birthday.
"I'm for sure calling her right after I'm done here. It's just special that it's on her birthday," Meloche said. "We talked earlier. She's in Florida right now, so I'll be able to give her the puck tomorrow or in two days, so it's just great timing, I guess, and it feels unbelievable."
The Capitals were 0-for-3 on the power play and are 0-for-16 in their past five games.
"I think we've gotten really good looks, especially tonight," Washington defenseman John Carlson said. "We've just got to keep working for those chances, and I think that is the biggest thing. Focus on what we are doing to get those good chances."
NOTES:Sharks forward Rudolfs Balcers exited COVID-19 protocol and took part in line rushes during morning skate but did not play. … Gregor's goal was his first since Nov. 30 (21 games). Dahlen's was his first since Dec. 9 (15 games).