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Ducks left wing Andrew Agozzino, left, and Sharks left wing Marcus Sorensen vie for the puck during the second period of Monday’s game in San Jose. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz blocks a shot by Sharks left wing Marcus Sorensen during the first period of Monday’s game in San Jose. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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San Jose Sharks defenseman Christian Jaros (47) is checked into the boards by Anaheim Ducks defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (22) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, April 12, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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Anaheim Ducks left wing Max Comtois (53) scores a goal past San Jose Sharks goaltender Martin Jones (31) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, April 12, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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Anaheim Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) blocks a shot by San Jose Sharks left wing Evander Kane (9) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, April 12, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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Anaheim Ducks right wing Alexander Volkov (92) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, April 12, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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Anaheim Ducks left wing Andrew Agozzino (26) battles for the puck against San Jose Sharks left wing Evander Kane (9) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, April 12, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau (12) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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Anaheim Ducks right wing Alexander Volkov (92) celebrates with teammates Cam Fowler (4), Sam Carrick (39), and Andy Welinski (45) after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, April 12, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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Sharks center Ryan Donato leaps out of the way as Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz makes a save during the second period of Monday’s game in San Jose. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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Anaheim Ducks center Sam Carrick (39) moves the puck up the ice past San Jose Sharks’ Erik Karlsson (65) and Jeffrey Truchon-Viel (63) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, April 12, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) moves the puck ahead of Anaheim Ducks left wing Max Jones (49) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, April 12, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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Anaheim Ducks right wing Alexander Volkov (92) skates past San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro (38) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, April 12, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson (36) blocks a shot by San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau (12) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. The Ducks won 5-1. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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Anaheim Ducks center Rickard Rakell (67) is congratulated by players on the bench after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, April 12, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. Anaheim won 4-0. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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Anaheim Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) leaps to bat down a puck in front of San Jose Sharks left wing John Leonard (43) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, April 12, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. Anaheim won 4-0. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau (12) and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (22) vie for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, April 12, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. Anaheim won 4-0. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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San Jose Sharks left wing Marcus Sorensen (20) falls in front of Anaheim Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) as Anaheim Ducks’ Danton Heinen (43) defends during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, April 12, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. Anaheim won 4-0. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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Anaheim Ducks left wing Max Comtois (53) hugs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) after a 4-0 victory against the San Jose Sharks in a NHL hockey game Monday, April 12, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
The game was only seconds old when Ryan Donato of the Sharks came charging toward Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz from the left wing, firing the first of 46 shots at him on Monday night at SAP Center in San Jose. Stolarz made the save easily, confidently, setting the tone for what was to come.
By game’s end, Stolarz had blanked the Sharks, 4-0, win his second start in his fourth appearance this season and set a franchise record for the most saves by a Ducks goalie in a shutout. Jonas Hiller and Dominic Roussel had shared the record with 44 saves in a shutout.
Stolarz set a career-high in saves in his third career shutout.
It was one more reason to believe Stolarz could form an effective tandem with John Gibson starting next season, assuming 40-year-old Ryan Miller decides to hang up the tools of the trade after a Hall of Fame-caliber career. Gibson and Miller have been the Ducks’ tandem since 2017-18.
No question, Stolarz, 27, has earned more starts down the stretch of 2020-21.
“That’s my motivation right now,” Stolarz said of proving his value. “I want to show this club I can play at this level and I’m someone they can count on and rely on. It’s just fun to be back out there. We have a good group in the locker room. It’s fun going out there and battling with them.”
Alexander Volkov scored twice and Max Comtois once as the Ducks built a three-goal lead only 12:19 into the game, easing Stolarz’s burden. Or so it seemed as the Ducks headed to the dressing room with a commanding lead after one of their best opening periods of the season.
San Jose quickly assumed control of the game in the second period, though. The Sharks fired shot after shot after shot at Stolarz as the Ducks retreated into a defensive shell. But by the end of the period, the score was still 3-0 despite the fact that the Sharks outshot the Ducks by 17-3 in the second.
Rickard Rakell extended the Ducks’ lead to 4-0 only 3:26 into the third period, but the Sharks continued to attack. Stolarz fended them off again and again. By game’s end, the Sharks had outshot the Ducks 46-21, but they had nothing to show for it. Literally, in fact.
“He was excellent, a 10 out of 10 performance, especially through periods two and three, where we were totally gassed,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said of Stolarz. “Anthony was fresh. He was committed. It was quite a performance.”
The fatigue of the Ducks’ skaters was evident over the final 40 minutes, after they suffered a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday at Honda Center. The Sharks beat them to loose pucks and generated sustained pressure, just as the Ducks had done to the Sharks in the opening 20 minutes.
Through it all, Stolarz seemed unfazed.
He said he didn’t mind the heavy workload.
After spending most of the season on the taxi squad he was just happy to play.
“When teams are throwing pucks at you, it gets you into a little bit of a groove and it allows you to settle in,” Stolarz said. “The guys did a great job of eliminating second chances, letting me see the first shot and if there was a rebound out front, they did a really good job of clearing it.”
Donato was a threat from beginning to end, leading the Sharks with six shots on goal. He wasn’t alone in testing Stolarz, though. Brent Burns, Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc each had five shots. None of them could solve Stolarz, and the Sharks lost their second in a row to the Ducks.
“We did a lot right in the first period,” Eakins said. “To be quite honest and blunt, we didn’t do a whole lot great in periods two and three. We just couldn’t get going again and we got a little sloppy with our play in the neutral zone and a little too cute in the (offensive) zone, and a lot of that was just fatigue.”
Anthony Stolarz took to the mic to talk about his shutout, his rebound control, the mental boost from the early lead and how he stays ready. #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/OMOYIWYINJ
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) April 13, 2021
Grant with a nice pass and @comtois20 puts us in the lead. #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/JvAviKqHkV
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) April 13, 2021
In his sixth game with us, Volkov gets his second goal. #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/PsBQts8ETX
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) April 13, 2021
Volkov is heating up…
#FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/6yCWeIsZv4
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) April 13, 2021
Pick your corner, @RickyRakell93. #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/nJdhZO7VC2
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) April 13, 2021
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