Johansson makes 23 saves, Stamkos has goal and assist, and Lightning hammer Sharks 6-0
Thu, Oct 26, 2023
NHL News (AP)
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Jonas Johansson made 23 saves for his second consecutive shutout, Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist, and the Tampa Bay Lightning hammered the winless San Jose Sharks 6-0 on Thursday night.
Tampa Bay also got goals from Brayden Point, Michael Eyssimont, Brandon Hagel, Nicholas Paul and Luke Glendening.
San Jose goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, under constant siege, was pulled at 7:29 of the second after allowing five goals on 21 mostly quality shots.
The Sharks have opened the season at 0-6-1. Dating to a 7-2 win at Arizona last Apr. 1, San Jose is winless in 13 games at 0-11-2.
"We've just to play with more of a competitive edge to our game," Sharks coach David Quinn said before the game. "I mean, just because you are around a battle doesn't mean you're in the battle. There's a big, big difference. We have to play with a more freakin' attitude if we're going to be successful and generate more offense and spend less time in our end."
San Jose has eight goals in its seven games, scoring more than one just once.
Johansson, filling in for the injured Andrei Vasilevskiy, had 32 saves in a 3-0 win Tuesday over Carolina.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper said Vasilevskiy (back surgery) is doing light skating like "a Christmas skate" and is expected back in late November.
Stamkos made it 3-0 during a 5-on-3 power play with 42 seconds left in the first. Stamkos tied Dale Hawerchuk for 39th place on the all-time goals list with 518. The captain has 196 power-play goals, which is one away from tying Jarome Iginla for 21st place.
Stamkos also tied Ray Whitney for 71st all-time with 1,064 points.
Veteran San Jose defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic was a healthy scratch for the second straight game.
UP NEXT
Sharks: Play Friday night at Carolina.
Lightning: Host Seattle on Monday night.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL
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