The Sharks lose after a third-period lead on a special night.

The San Jose Sharks were feeling the weight of the moment as they prepared to face off against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. After watching Joe Thornton's jersey number 19 be raised to the rafters in a heartfelt and emotional pregame ceremony, the sold-out crowd was buzzing with excitement and the Sharks knew they had to step up their game.

The first two periods were strong for the Sharks, with a one-goal lead in their favor. But in the third period, things took a turn for the worse. The Sabres managed to score two goals in quick succession, snatching the lead away from the Sharks and ultimately securing a 4-2 victory. Rasmus Dahlin's empty net goal in the final seconds was the nail in the coffin for the Sharks.

The special teams were a major source of frustration for the Sharks, who failed to capitalize on any of their five power play opportunities, including a two-man advantage in the third period. On the other side, the Sabres' Alex Tuch scored a shorthanded goal that sealed the deal for his team.

It was a particularly sour start to the Sharks' four-game homestand, with forwards Fabian Zetterlund and Luke Kunin scoring the only two goals for the team. Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood made 27 saves, but it wasn't enough to secure a victory for the Sharks.

Former Sharks goalie James Reimer had 31 saves for the Sabres, who seemed to find their rhythm late in the second period and carried it into the third. Peyton Krebs tied the game for the Sabres in the second period, but the Sharks quickly regained the lead thanks to a goal from Kunin.

Zetterlund's goal in the first period was accompanied by a sweet gesture as he blew a kiss to Thornton's banner hanging from the scoreboard. The Sharks' coach, Ryan Warsofsky, had high expectations for his team on this special night. He wanted to see his players channel the energy of the crowd and put on a performance worthy of Thornton's legacy.

"It's a big night for this organization and Jumbo, his family, and everyone that's played with him," Warsofsky said before the game. "We've got to put in a good performance, for sure." Unfortunately, the Sharks couldn't quite live up to those expectations, but the love and admiration for Thornton were palpable throughout the arena.

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