Yaroslav Askarov, San Jose Sharks lose to Edmonton Oilers

EDMONTON, Alberta – Rookie goaltender Yaroslav Askarov hoped to provide a spark for the reeling San Jose Sharks on Saturday after they lost three heartbreaking games in a row on their recently completed home court.

“He is a good personality. “He has a certain swagger and confidence that’s good for a goalie,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said before Saturday’s game, “and I know he’s very popular in this locker room.”

Askarov needs to be loved now.

In a game that featured some of the NHL’s offensive talent, Askarov completely stole the show, although he did allow a goal late in the third period and a goal to Leon Draisaitl just 18 seconds into overtime as the Sharks at Rogers Plaqce lost 2:3,

The Sharks were leading by one goal when Mattias Ekholm scored the game-tying goal with 17.3 seconds left when the Oilers’ net was empty.

Askarov finished the game with 41 saves.

Luke Kunin and Jan Rutta both scored goals in the first period for San Jose, with Rutta’s goal – his first of the season – coming at 8:21.

Askarov made his third start for the Sharks this season. In his two NHL games this year, against the St. Louis Blues and Los Angeles Kings, Askarov was 1-0-1 with a .927 save percentage. In his first win for the Sharks on November 25, Askarov stopped 22 of 24 shots as San Jose defeated Los Angeles 7-2 at the SAP Center.

The Sharks tried to repeat that defensive performance against two of the NHL’s best players, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Easier said than done, as Zach Hyman, stationed on the right side of the Sharks net, delivered a pass from McDavid past Askarov at 7:07 of the first period, tying the game at 1-1. Too many Sharks players had their eyes on the puck on McDavid’s stick.

But the Sharks took the lead right back when Rutta, under pressure from the Blues, received a pass from Jake Walman and fired a shot into the net that bounced off the post for his first goal since April 13 last season led.

“We have to defend the middle of the ice,” Warsofsky said. “Of course they have two superstars there and a really good team, so it will be important that we don’t heat them up with a few turnovers. And that means not in the news zone. That means in the offensive zone, when we also have the puck, we let them defend. And then when we get in our own end and get a chance to get pucks out, we have to make sure we execute.”

Askarov and Alexander Georgiev will form the Sharks’ goaltending tandem for the foreseeable future, with their next game being Monday against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. After Christmas, the Sharks host the Vegas Golden Knights on December 27th, the Calgary Flames on December 28th and the Philadelphia Flyers on December 31st.