The Tampa Bay Lightning's recent hot streak found its match out west late Saturday night, and that was the San Jose Sharks. Evander Kane scored twice, as the Sharks put and end to the Lightning's win and point streak with a 5-2 victory at the SAP Center. It was the first regulation loss for the first-place Lightning in 5 1/2 weeks, dating back to late November. Kane's two goals gives him 200 goals in his career, as this comes in his second season with San Jose. The win for the Sharks keeps them comfortably ahead of the Anaheim Ducks for third place in the Pacific Division. That is now a nine-point advantage for San Jose, who is tied with the Las Vegas Golden Knights in points, but trail them by three in the wins category.
The Lightning's point streak ends at 16 games, which was an NHL-best, as their win streak ends at seven in a row, which were both good enough to extend their Atlantic Division lead to 10 points over the Toronto Maple Leafs, who won on Saturday to inch a bit closer.
Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski, and Lukas Radil also scored for San Jose, while Brent Burns added three assists and Erik Karlson had two in the win. Karlsson now has an assist in 12 consecutive game, as he continues to overcome his early season struggles in his first season with the Sharks. Martin Jones made 19 saves, only allowing Victor Hedman and Mikhail Sergachev to beat him on the night. Tampa Bay ended the night 0-for-2 on the power play, despite the Sharks playing without three defenseman.
Since a 3-1 loss to the Ducks on November 27th, the Lightning had gone 15-0-1, but it was another Pacific Division team that got the best of them to end that run. Andrei Vasilevskiy had 28 saves in the loss, as Tampa Bay returns home on Tuesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Sharks will stay home to host the Los Angeles Kings on Monday.
The Lightning's point streak ends at 16 games, which was an NHL-best, as their win streak ends at seven in a row, which were both good enough to extend their Atlantic Division lead to 10 points over the Toronto Maple Leafs, who won on Saturday to inch a bit closer.
Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski, and Lukas Radil also scored for San Jose, while Brent Burns added three assists and Erik Karlson had two in the win. Karlsson now has an assist in 12 consecutive game, as he continues to overcome his early season struggles in his first season with the Sharks. Martin Jones made 19 saves, only allowing Victor Hedman and Mikhail Sergachev to beat him on the night. Tampa Bay ended the night 0-for-2 on the power play, despite the Sharks playing without three defenseman.
Since a 3-1 loss to the Ducks on November 27th, the Lightning had gone 15-0-1, but it was another Pacific Division team that got the best of them to end that run. Andrei Vasilevskiy had 28 saves in the loss, as Tampa Bay returns home on Tuesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Sharks will stay home to host the Los Angeles Kings on Monday.