San Jose Sharks goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic deflects a shot in the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes at SAP Center in San Jose on Tue Oct 14, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sharks get dominated 5-1 by Caines; SJ remains winless through 3 games

By Lincoln Juarez

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Five different Hurricanes scored to blow through San Jose in a 5-1 win. Michael Misa was kept off the score sheet in his NHL debut and the Sharks ugly start to the season continues.

After two gut-wrenching, late-game losses to open up the season the San Jose Sharks aimed to weather the storm of the Carolina Hurricanes at SAP Center. The Sharks second overall pick from the 2025 draft, Michael Misa made his highly anticipated NHL debut Tuesday night. The 18 year old forward from Oakville, Ontario, who scored 134 points in his final OHL season last year with the Saginaw Spirit, finally took to NHL ice.

The Sharks had not trailed in regulation until Tuesday night when Carolina’s Sean Walker opened up the scoring with his first of the year. It was also the start of a rough night for Alex Nedeljkovic in the Sharks net.

Nedeljkovic, who made a costly error last Thursday night resulting in the Vegas Golden Knights overtime win, hoped to make a better second impression on Sharks fans at SAP Center. Instead, he allowed five goals on 43 shots with not much help from his defense in front of him.

Five different Hurricanes scored on Nedeljkovic as Carolina ran away with the game in the third period, not giving the Sharks any chance to make it close.

As for top prospect Michael Misa, he was held to 0 shots and a -2 in 15:06 of total ice time. The only Sharks offense came in the second period by William Eklund on a breakaway goal to tie the game at one at the time. It was Eklund’s first of the season and the lone San Jose goal.

One of the biggest concerns from Tuesday night was the Sharks powerplay. San Jose went 0-5 on the man advantage, generating just four shots on goal. Failure to capitalize on Carolina penalties put the Sharks deeper into the hole they’ve dug for themselves.

They have a chance on Friday night in Salt Lake City to get themselves out of it and tally that elusive first win of the season.

Puck drop on the front half of a back-to-back will be at 6:00pm on Friday night in Utah against the Mammoth.