Karlsson reaches 30 points, Sharks beat Senators 5-1

By Max Miller, The Associated Press on November 21, 2022.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) – Erik Karlsson had two assists, becoming the first NHL defenseman to reach 30 points this season, and the San Jose Sharks beat the Ottawa Senators 5-1 on Monday night.

Tomas Hertl, Matt Nieto, Timo Meier, Logan Couture and Noah Gregor scored for the Sharks, who improved to 2-7-3 at home. Kaapo Kahkonen made 37 saves for his second win, and defenseman Matt Benning added two assists.

Senators goalie Cam Talbot was pulled in the second period for Anton Forsberg after giving up three goals on seven shots. Forsberg made 21 saves.

Tim Stützle scored for Ottawa, assisted by Brady Tkachuk.

Gregor hit the post on a breakaway but scored shortly afterward to give the Sharks the lead with his first goal of the season.

Stützle scored his seventh to tie it at 1 in the first period. Tkachuk made a nice pass from behind the net to create the opportunity.

Meier put the Sharks ahead 2-1 just 1:18 into the second after a sweet feed from Karlsson. Meier extended his point streak to four games by scoring his ninth goal.

Nieto scored his fourth goal in the second on a tip-in to make it 3-1 after Matt Benning flung a puck toward the net. It was Nieto’s third goal in his last four games.

Hertl scored a power-play goal with 4:04 left in the second. The Sharks held the puck in the offensive zone for the entire power play, and Hertl got his fifth of the season.

Couture sent one the length of the ice for an empty-net goal with 58 seconds left. It was his 10th goal of the season.

Sharks rookie defenseman Nick Cicek got into his first NHL fight against Mark Kastelic after they came together in front of the San Jose net.

UP NEXT

Senators: Visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday.

Sharks: Take on the Kraken in Seattle on Wednesday.

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