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The San Jose Sharks have dropped five games in a row to open the season, falling 5-2 to the New York Islanders tonight.
Alexander Barabanov suited up for the first time this season in tonight's game, resulting in Oskar Lindblom being scratched. James Reimer also got his third start of the season.
San Jose was generating some good chances throughout the opening frame and had a pretty good period overall. Then with about seven minutes to go in the frame, the Sharks were rewarded, with Nico Sturm burying a rebound in close. The Sharks did a good job limiting chances in the period and took a 1-0 lead into intermission.
The Islanders built a lot of momentum early in the second period and the Sharks were outshot badly through the first half of the frame, but James Reimer was great. However, midway through the period, a point shot was tipped in by Anders Lee, tying the game. Then about five minutes later, Zach Parise also directed in a point shot, giving New York the lead. Before the end of the frame though, the Sharks were able to keep the puck in the offensive zone and Evgeny Svechnikov directed a rebound off Matt Benning’s shot past Varlamov. With under a minute to go in the period though, the Sharks lost a defensive zone faceoff and Oliver Wahlstrom picked a corner on Reimer, making it 3-2 Islanders after 40 minutes.
San Jose found themselves down by two for the first time about five minutes in to the third period, with Wahlstrom beating Reimer after a puck bounced out to him. The Sharks managed 11 shots in the frame but coudln’t pull any closer and the Islanders added a late empty netter, leading to a 5-2 loss for the Sharks.
The Sharks actually got off to a relatively good start, with a competitive first period. The second frame was a turning point though and New York was controlling most of the play in the back 40 minutes.
San Jose’s top forwards are also struggling in a huge way. So far, Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier have combined for two goals and none of them have more than two points in five games.
The one bright side was the Sharks’ penalty kill remains perfect through five games, having now killed off all 15 power plays they've faced.
James Reimer was solid and was a major reason the Sharks were able to hold off the Islanders as long as they did. Reimer still stopped 41 shots in the loss.
So the Sharks are still yet to register a point this season, sitting at 0-5-0 to start the year. They’ll continue their Eastern road trip on Thursday against the New York Rangers.
OTHER ARTICLES FROM OCTOBER
Sharks announce additions to Hockey Operations staff, sign Scott Harrington
Sharks drop season opener in Prague, fall 4-1 to Predators
Sharks fall short against Predators in second game of Global Series
Sharks announce roster for home opener
Sharks fall to Hurricanes in Brent Burns’ return to San Jose
Sharks winless through four games after blowing lead in loss to Blackhawks 
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