Recap: Comtois Scores in NHL Debut as Ducks Beat Sharks 5-2

SAN JOSE -- With a lineup that featured three rookies making their NHL debuts, the Ducks delivered a season-opening victory for the history books - a 5-2 triumph over the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center. Max Comtois, Kiefer Sherwood and Sam Steel gave Ducks fans a glimpse into the future, all three logging serious minutes and proving that a raucous Sharks sellout crowd wouldn't hold them down.

But no one could have predicted the start the Ducks would have in this one tonight. Just 45 seconds into the game, Comtois leaped over the boards. He got his legs moving, received a pass and all of a sudden found himself with a step on star defenseman Brent Burns. With a clear lane to the net, Comtois fired a shot that beat Martin Jones for the game's opening goal at the 49-second mark of the first period.

It was an incredible moment for the 19-year-old rookie, whose goal marked the fastest to start an NHL career since 1989 when Buffalo's Alexander Mogilny scored 20 second into the first on Oct. 5, 1989 vs. Quebec. Furthermore, Comtois' goal was the sixth-fastest goal to open an NHL career in NHL modern-era history (1943-44).
"I wouldn't have believed it if you said it to me before the game," Comtois said, on if he could've scripted it any better. "It was a good play by Rico to poke the puck to me, and I found a way to put it into the back of the net. Really happy. I didn't want to shoot it off the pad or miss that chance. It was a great play overall. I'm really happy to get this one out of the way."
But once the euphoria wore off, the Ducks found themselves in a hole. Tomas Hertl and Evander Kane scored consecutive goals to give the Sharks a 2-1 lead late in the second period. But the Ducks showed resilience, evening the score when Rickard Rakell's power-play goal at the 18-minute mark of the middle frame tied the game, 2-2.

During the second intermission, the Ducks regrouped. After getting hemmed in their zone for the better parts of 40 minutes, the Ducks came out flying in the third. They dictated the play and generated chances. They hounded the Sharks and were rewarded at the 8:02 mark of the period when Brandon Montour sent a backhander over Martin Jones' shoulder to give them a 3-2 lead. It stood as the game winner.

John Gibson was at the top of his game, turning aside 31 of 33 shots, including a breakaway on Kane just minutes before Montour's goal. When the Ducks needed him the most tonight, Gibson shined.
Adam Henrique scored a crucial insurance marker on the power play midway through the third period and Carter Rowney put the game on ice with an empty-net tally with 24 seconds left on the clock. "To any great power play, getting the puck moving around kind of gets the PK moving around," said Henrique. "If you can take advantage of that, it pays off. You need a couple good passes to get set."

Rakell (1g/2a) and Jakob Silfverberg (three assists) each had three-point games. Montour tied Lubomir Visnovsky (6) for eighth on the all-time franchise game-winning goals list for defensemen. Sherwood recorded his first career NHL point with an assist on Rowney's goal. Accolades all around.
It was a total team effort, and one that will be remembered for quite some time. It was also a rarity of sorts - to win a season opener - as the Ducks entered the game with an all-time mark of 6-18-0 in season openers.
After the game, Sherwood
met up with his parents
, Roger and Yuko - who were featured in
this story
earlier today. Steel met with his family, too, in a moment they will never forget. Though Comtois' parents couldn't make it to the game tonight, Max says they will be in attendance on Saturday when the Ducks resume action against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena.