Golden Knights stunned following OT loss to Sharks in Game 7

SAN JOSE --The Vegas Golden Knights were stunned after a 5-4 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks in Game 7 of the Western Conference First Round at SAP Center on Tuesday.

The Golden Knights led 3-0 midway through the third period, but the Sharks scored four times on a five-minute power play to take a 4-3 lead before eventually winning.
"San Jose came out and played well," Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. "Marc-Andre] Fleury made some unbelievable saves in the first 15 minutes, and it was 3-0 for us. We were a little fortunate to be there, but you've seen what happened after that. It's a shame [the Cody Eakin major penalty] happened. We should be playing the next game."
[RELATED: [Complete Sharks vs. Golden Knights series coverage]
After Eakin received a five-minute penalty and game misconduct at 9:13 for cross-checking Sharks forward Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture scored twice, and Tomas Hertl and Kevin Labanc each scored on the power play in a span of 4:01.
"This one will sting," Vegas forward Max Pacioretty said. "We thought we played well enough to win this series. We know in the NHL playoffs it comes down to a bounce or two, but this will be tough to digest for a while."

Labanc's goal at 13:21 gave San Jose a 4-3 lead, but Jonathan Marchessault tied the game 4-4 with 47 seconds remaining in regulation before Barclay Goodrow won it at 18:19 of overtime.
"You have a game, it's right there for you and things happen and all of a sudden, you're down, you claw your way back in, you think you have a chance to win, and just a mistake and give them a chance in overtime," Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt said. "That's all it takes, one chance in overtime."
Vegas had a 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series before losing 5-2 in Game 5 and 2-1 in the second overtime in Game 6.
"It is a very frustrating feeling, but we have to remember it for next year," Pacioretty said.

Vegas, which was playing in its first Game 7, defeated San Jose in six games in the second round last season and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural season, losing to the Washington Capitals in five games.
"Last year, we were in the Stanley Cup Final, and it was tough to lose," Gallant said. "Tonight was tougher than that. It really was, the way we lost."
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