Sharks celebrating first goal against the Islanders during the second period at SAP Center in San Jose on Sat Mar 8, 2025 ( San Jose Sharks Media)

By Fernando Abarca

Back at the tank… we all missed it as the Tank recorded more than 17,000 in attendance

SAN JOSE, CA — It’s a great feeling to return to the tank. After the noise of the Four Nations tournament, some games on the road, and all the action around the trade deadline, Sharks hockey was absent for more than a month. Now, the Sharks are back at home, hosting the New York Islanders, who are in the hunt to make the playoffs.

The New York Rangers come to the tank eager to add another victory when they played the Winnipeg Jets with a 3-2 score. Coincidentally, against the best team in the West. On the other hand, the Sharks played the Avalanche last Wednesday night, when things did not really go well as it has been a little usual lately.

The Islanders started the night red hot with two goals during the first period when New York showed business and scored the 1-0 by Jean Gabriel Pageau, ten minutes passed the first one, New York was granted a power-play after a penalty, Anthony Duclair assisted by Simon Holmstrom, Noah Dobson. First intermission marked to an end with the visitors ahead by two.

Moving on to the 2nd period, the Sharks recovered depth and strength. Indeed, it is what it showed with a lone goal by Nikolai Kovalenko with beautiful assists by Shakir Mukhamadullin and Macklin Celebrini.

The locals pushed for more aggressiveness, pressure, and physicality. It was not enough time to score another one, but it seemed the Sharks pushed and found ways to net the equalizer at the tank. The second never came.

During the third, the Sharks once again demonstrated their inefficiencies and weaknesses, and the lack of chemistry. It is not a surprise against a team that is fighting for a playoff spot in a tough division, the difference is noticeable.

New York netted two goals in a matter of two minutes, between each one, goals orchestrated by Anders Lee and Adam Boqvist in the early third.

New York took advantage of the mental aspects of the game, and was displayed as the Sharks showed less intensity, unable to fight back, and unable to retrieve the puck. Until later in the game, the Sharks fought back to score a second power play goal. leaving the game 4-2 for the visiting Islanders.

The people of San Jose responded by attending the game, as the local crowd of 17,435 waits to see the team winning again, the Teal will have a chance to do it on Tuesday night against a team of roughly the same, the Nashville Predators at home.