Golden Knights wrap up preseason with home loss to Sharks

Time for the games to count for real.

The Vegas Golden Knights wrapped up the preseason with a 4-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.

Center Tomas Hertl scored for the second straight game, and center Nic Dowd tied it 2-2 at 3:18 into the third period with a one-timer from the left circle.

Goaltender Carter Hart allowed four goals on 17 shots in his second start of the preseason. Hart made 28 saves on Tuesday in a 2-1 shootout win in San Jose.

Sharks forward Mason Marchment broke the tie with 10:13 left with a short-side finish over Hart’s shoulder. Center Michael Misa added another with 5:06 left.

Coach Ryan Craig stressed execution and attention to detail especially in the defensive zone after the veteran lineup shook off the rust Thursday.The message was received. The Knights played a sound game defensively. Breakouts were clean. They took away the dangerous areas and forced the Sharks to play outside.

That culminated in the Knights outshooting the Sharks 25-5 through two periods. That didn’t matter, because the Sharks converted on their chances. Newly named Sharks captain Macklin Celebrini sniped a shot from the left circle at 6:45 to give San Jose a 2-0 lead.

Despite the Knights outshooting San Jose 13-1 through the first 19 minutes of the first period, San Jose opened the scoring. A hooking call on Mitch Marner resulted in a power-play goal from defenseman Dmitry Orlov for a 1-0 Sharks lead.

Hertl answered with a power-play goal of his own with 2:26 left in the second period to make it 2-1. Pavel Dorofeyev’s departure, mixed with a new look on the power play, leaves open for interpretation who will be the supplier of offense on the man advantage.

The first option would be Hertl with his 27 power-play goals the last two seasons. This one wasn’t with a shot in the low slot, rather a rebound following a shot from defenseman Shea Theodore.

Do not fret. The next time hockey is played at T-Mobile Arena, it will have purpose. The Knights open their 10th season on Tuesday at home against the Chicago Blackhawks.