VANCOUVER — Matt Nieto scored his second goal of the game in overtime as the San Jose Sharks defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on Sunday in NHL pre-season action at Rogers Arena.
Kevin Labanc also scored for the Sharks (3-0-0), who stayed undefeated in exhibition play.
Anton Rodin and Tuomo Ruutu scored in regulation for Vancouver (1-1-2).
Martin Jones stopped 26 shots for San Jose. Canucks goalie Ryan Miller finished with 18 saves.
After Vancouver’s Andrey Pedan and fellow defenceman Dan Kelly dropped the gloves minutes into the game, the Canucks jumped ahead on a short-handed goal with Pedan serving an instigator penalty. Joseph LaBate sent a nice cross-ice pass to Ruutu, who wristed the puck over Jones’ glove.
The Sharks capitalized on their next power play midway through the period, as Julius Bergman’s shot ricocheted right to Nieto and he batted it in past Miller, 1-1.
Rodin gave the Canucks the lead again with 3:38 left. Bo Horvat made a Sedin-esque behind-the-back pass from the boards to Rodin, who one-timed it in.
There was blood on the ice in the second after Derek Dorsett and Alex Gallant tussled in a vicious fight. Shortly after, Rodin had a chance at his second with a partial breakaway, but couldn’t control the puck on his stick.
The Sharks tied it again with another power-play goal in the last minute of the second. Labanc took a pass from Chris Tierney and crashed the net before banging in his own rebound. It was the sixth power-play opportunity for San Jose through two periods.
Rodin continued his strong game in the third with another chance _ this time a point blank shot at Jones’ doorstep that went just wide.
Jones was impressive in the third period, making an incredible glove save on Sven Baertschi during a Canucks power play. He made another key save in the final minutes to force overtime.
Notes: Vancouver’s next pre-season game is Monday at home to Arizona. The Sharks host Anaheim on Wednesday.
