Golden Knights blow lead, gain in wild card with shootout loss to Sharks

LAS VEGAS --Timo Meier scored the tying goal with 0.9 seconds left in the third period, and the San Jose Sharks rallied late to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-4 in the shootout at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday.

Meier scored from below the left face-off circle after Logan Couture's redirection of a Brent Burns point shot caromed off the end boards.
"It's a great story for us and I know I've never seen the room as happy and as joyful," San Jose coach Bob Boughner said. "Obviously we're disappointed not to be in the playoffs, but I'm most proud that these guys are really fighting hard for each other right to the end. As a coach, it's all you can ask."

Chandler Stephenson scored his 20th goal of the season, and Logan Thompson made 25 saves for the Golden Knights (42-31-6), who moved within three points of the Dallas Stars for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.
"Definitely a tough pill to swallow," Vegas captain Mark Stone said. "We have to win the next game [Tuesday at the Stars]. If we win the next game, you never know what could happen. You can get some help. We've gotten some along the way. Really a devastating loss, but we're still in it. You have to think that way. We have to win a big game on Tuesday to keep our chances alive."

Nick Bonino scored twice, and James Reimer made 42 saves and didn't allow a goal in the shootout for the Sharks (32-35-12), who have won three of four.
"It's tough to compare what just happened for us to winning a playoff game, but the emotion in the locker room from our side, it was pretty awesome in that room right there," Bonino said.
Thomas Bordeleau, in his first NHL shootout attempt, scored the only goal for San Jose. He skated to his right then cut to the net on his forehand before pulling the puck back to score with a backhand.
"I'm just comfortable with [the move]. I've been doing it a lot," Bordeleau said. "Only goalie that can stop it in the past couple of years was [Michigan goalie Erik] Portillo ... So I just tried it out, and it worked."

Tomas Hertl gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead at 11:43 of the first period.
Stephenson tied it 1-1 at 14:23 on a power play, his third straight game with a goal.
Max Pacioretty gave Vegas a 2-1 lead at 7:46 of the second period with a shot from the right circle.
William Carrier extended the lead to 3-1 at 9:59 with a one-timer off a pass from Keegan Kolesar.
Bonino cut it to 3-2 at 18:55 when he tipped in a shot by Jaycob Megna.
Nicolas Roy gave Vegas a 4-2 lead at 6:35 of the third period when he one-timed a William Karlsson pass. It was the second goal for Vegas' fourth line.
"I really like the feel [of the fourth line]," DeBoer said. "I love what they brought. Their physicality and how they got on the forecheck. It was a glimpse of what we were waiting for."
Bonino brought San Jose within 4-3 at 17:54 with a wrist shot from the point.

NOTES:Kolesar left after the second period. DeBoer said he will be evaluated Monday. … The Sharks ended an 11-game losing streak to the Golden Knights. Their previous victory was Nov. 21, 2019. … Hertl scored his 30th goal of the season, the second time he has scored that many (35 in 2018-19). … Stephenson scored 20 goals for the first time in the NHL. … Carrier tied his NHL career high in points (19) and goals (eight). He missed the previous 10 games with an upper-body injury.