Askarov stands tall (again) as Sharks finish homestand with impressive win

"SAN JOSE Shakir Mukhamadullin and Macklin Celebrini both had goals in the first two periods, and goalie Yaroslav Askarov made 33 saves as the San Jose Sharks earned a 3-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Sunday to close out a four-game homestand. Mukhamadullin scored his first goal of the season at the 15:53 mark of the first period, and Celebrini added his 14th at the 11:45 mark of the second on a power play as the Sharks took a 2-0 lead."

"Askarov entered Sunday as one of the hottest goalies in the NHL. In seven starts this month, Askarov was 6-1-0, and his .957 save percentage was second-best among all NHL goalies who have started at least seven games. Askarov was coming off a 31-save performance in the Sharks' 4-3 shootout win over the Los Angeles Kings. Askarov also made 24 saves in San Jose's 3-2 overtime win over the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday to open the homestand."

"The Sharks were looking to bounce back after a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday when coach Ryan Warsofsky lamented his team's lack of complete, battle-level, and attention to detail. San Jose held a 2-1 lead late in the second period, but a poor line change helped lead to a goal by Senators winger Fabian Zetterlund, and a defensive breakdown late in the third allowed Tim Stutzle to score the go-ahead goal, handing the Sharks their third loss in five games."

Yaroslav Askarov made 33 saves as San Jose defeated Boston 3-1 to finish a four-game homestand. Shakir Mukhamadullin scored his first goal at 15:53 of the first period and Macklin Celebrini added a power-play goal at 11:45 of the second for a 2-0 lead. Morgan Geekie scored Boston's lone goal at 10:02 of the third on a pass from David Pastrnak. Collin Graf sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 1:07 remaining. Askarov entered Sunday 6-1-0 in seven starts this month with a .957 save percentage, and San Jose completed the homestand 3-1-0. The Sharks tweaked forward lines, moving William Eklund to the top line alongside Macklin Celebrini.

Read at www.mercurynews.com