Smith put the puck into an empty net after San Jose goalie Alex Nedeljkovic had a pass blocked while out of position. Shea Theodore tipped the puck forward for Smith to slide into the open net.
Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden scored, and Jack Eichel had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights (1-0-1). Mark Stone had two assists and Akira Schmid made 20 saves.
Vegas forward Brett Howden (21) beats Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic to tie the score at 1-1 during the first period – Photo by Jack Lima
Jeff Skinner, Alexander Wennberg and Philipp Kurashev scored for the Sharks in their season opener. Shakir Mukhamadullin had two assists and Nedeljkovic made 27 saves.
Skinner gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead at 5:31 of the first period. After Ty Dellandrea’s shot deviated from traffic in front, Skinner tapped in the rebound.
Howden tied the game 1-1 at 8:09 after taking the puck from the right wing and going around Nedeljkovic’s right pad as he cut across the net mouth.
Wennberg put the Sharks up 2-1 with a 5-on-3 power-play goal at 6:59 of the second period. William Eklund’s one-timer from the right circle rebounded from Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb to Wennberg in front for an open tap-in.
Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic makes a save during action in the third period – Photo by Jack Lima
Dorofeyev made it 2-2 with a power play goal at 2:22. Eichel made a pass from the left wing to Stone on the goal line. He then slid a pass across the crease to Dorofeyev in the right circle for a one-timer.
Kurashev gave San Jose a 3-2 lead with a goal at 2:59 of the third period, when he deflected Dmitry Orlov’s slap shot from just outside the top of the left circle.
Eichel tied the game at 3-3, while Vegas had an empty net at 6:26 after a dump-in from center ice. Eichel lifted the puck into the Sharks zone, where it landed and then bounced awkwardly by Nedeljkovic.
Sharks forwards Ty Dellandrea (10) and Jeff Skinner (53) battle Tomas Hertl (48) for the puck along the boards – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks forward Will Smith (2) skates over the puck on ice while William Karlsson (71) defends – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks forward Makin Celebrini takes the ice during pregame introductions – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks forward Alexander Wennberg (21) scores a goal in the second period on a shot that beats goalkeeper Akira Schmid – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks forward Adam Gaudette (81) appears to have control of the puck in front of goaltender Akira Schmid – Photo by Jack Lima
Jeff Skinner (53) fires the puck past Vegas goalie Akira Schmid (40) to open the scoring in the first period – Photo by Jack Lima
Jeff Skinner (53) and Kaedan Korczk (6) collide along the boards – Photo by Jack Lima
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