San Jose Sharks hosted the Anaheim Ducks at the SAP Center in San Jose on Fri Oct 4, 2024, during the final pre-season game at home. (San Jose Media Relations)

By: Fernando Abarca, San Jose Sharks Beat Writer.

SAN JOSE, CA –– Time flies by, and so does the NHL Pre-season.

Back in action for the final time, at least for pre-season at home, the Sharks host for the third time during these warm-up games to the Anaheim Ducks. The Sharks last played against Anaheim a week ago where the local team managed to take the win home with a 3-2 score in Overtime.

Things have not gone well since that Friday night for the Sharks. The Teal added another loss against Utah and lost something more than just a game, Mac. Celebrini was injured in the second period, and the young star did not return to the game. The good news is that. The injury is nothing serious and is clear to play.

This time, The Sharks played well but simply couldn’t maintain the pressure that playing in life-or-death situations requires. The team showed good chemistry and fighting, but in. these instances, the team that plays better wins

Throughout the first period, both teams were fairly evenly matched, dominating strategy and playmaking more than execution, so the first period passed without much news with a score of zero to zero.

The Sharks came out onto the ice with a different DNA, showing a more aggressive game, especially on the offensive side, recovering pucks and closing down opportunities for Anaheim to score goals.

All of this paid off, and at minute 19:07, with an assist from W. Smith and J. Walman on a deflected slap shot, Klim Kostin scored the first goal for the home team.

San Jose maintained the lead for a long time until minute 12:06, when Anaheim’s Frank Vatrano tied the game for Anaheim.

The second period was plagued by penalties, power-plays, and a close game.

Everything seemed to be setting up a good third period, Anaheim managed to counterattack, starting with a play by L. Carlsson, A. Killorn, and a goal by Cutter Gauthier. During the third period, Anaheim maintained the lead for the rest of the game, and San Jose seemed to add another loss in regulation time.

San Jose’s Henry Thrun took charge of tying the score at 3-3 with a powerful slap shot assisted by W. Eklund.

The game went to overtime, and there was not much new, but the latest thing about the game was that the game went to a penalty shootout for the first time this season.

The first to score in the shootout was Anaheim star Trevor Zegras, who failed to get the puck into the net, and then Will Smith for San Jose, who also failed to score.

That’s how the second shootout went, neither team scored. San Jose’s D. Gushchin had a good performance tonight but couldn’t give any hope in the shootout.

The game was decided on the last goal as Anaheim’s Cutter Gauthier scored again for Anaheim and gave itself the lead and the chance to win.

San Jose’s F. Zetterlund failed to score, and thus, the Sharks added another loss in the pre-season.

San Jose will travel to Las Vegas to finish its pre-season commitments against the Vegas Golden Knights and thus begin the long-awaited opening night next October 10 against the Blues.

San Jose will once again host the Ducks on Hispanic Heritage Night on October 12 at home.