San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky directs the players from behind the bench against the Boston Bruins in the third period on Sat Mar 22, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

It has been a very long time since the San Jose Sharks beat the Boston Bruins, in fact it has been 3,294 days ago. They broke that chain Saturday night winning the game 3-1 with the go ahead and winning goals scored in the third period. William Ecklund, Barclay Goodrow and Lucas Carlsson each scored a goal in a solid offensive effort.

Game recap: Although neither team was able to score in the opening period; it was the Sharks scoring the first goal of the game in the second period. San Jose’s William Ecklund scored assisted by Macklin Celebrini and Luca Cagnoni for the San Jose 1-0 lead. The Sharks held onto the slim lead as the time-clock began to wear down. The Bruins tied up this with a little over three minutes left in the period. At 16:50 Casey Mittlestadt scored assisted by Cole Koepke. This game had been a tight one from the opening face-off.

The 1-1 tie held deep into the third period. The Sharks had some great opportunities but Bruin goalie Joonas Korpisalo was just as stingy as San Jose’s Alexander Georgiev. Both goalies were doing a solid job but that was all to change in the late minutes of the third period.

San Jose would take back the lead and break the tie at 16:37. Lucas Carlsson scored assisted by Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini. Lucas Carlsson back after years and playing his first game as a Shark ending up scoring the winning goal. He was activated from the Barracuda for Saturday night’s game and what an incredible night he finished with finishing off the Bruins and handing them their fifth loss in a row.

The Sharks really took it to the Bruins in the final period. After taking back the lead, San Jose’s Barclay Goodrow slugged in his fifth goal of the season to solidify the win. He was assisted by William Ecklund and Lucas Carlsson who had a very busy night. The Sharks now improve their season record 19-42-9. This win has been a long time coming almost a decade ago.

Game notes: Saturday night the Sharks hosted the Bruins at the SAP Center. The Sharks continued to struggle losing on Thursday to the Hurricanes 3-1 as Carolina won their eighth game in a row while the Sharks took their fifth loss of their last 6 games and 32 of their last 40 games prior to Saturday night’s win.

They have struggled all season and had to contend with the loss of Marc-Edouard Vlasic who did not play with an upper body Issue. Vlasic was unable to take the ice Saturday night with a projected return date of March 27.

His absence didn’t affect the team’s defensive lineup as the Sharks held the Bruins to just one goal and unfortunately Vlasic has already missed 12 games due to injury this season. The Bruins have had a rough patch as well now having lost five games in a row and couldn’t turn this game around for a win over San Jose.

The Sharks have a 19-42-9 record this season and the Bruins have a 30-32-9 record with both teams taking up residence near or at the bottom of their respective divisions. The Sharks has been without Logan Couture for five months now and there still remains no timeline for his return. He remains a week to week with a lower body injury incurred during offseason training. This was to be be his 15th season with the Sharks.

This win came as a result of some solid play as well as solid decisions. San Jose played a well-rounded game Saturday night. It was William Ecklund, Barclay Woodrow and Lucas Carlsson who spear-headed the win but the entire team was playing as a unit. Goalie Alexander Georgiev had what may have been his best game this season. He was solid but for the one goal scored by Boston.

The Sharks will next take on the Toronto Maple Leafs at SAP this Thursday night with face-off scheduled for 7:30 PM.