Yaroslav Askarov celebrates the win against the LA Kings at SAP Center on Nov 20, 2025, Courtesy of the San Jose Sharks.

By Fernando Abarca

SAN JOSE, CA– The Sharks are back at home against the LA Kings on a Rivalry night showdown. Last time the Kings were in town, the Sharks lost 4-3 in OT. Things have been changing for good and better for the Teal, and will try to replicate the same success from Tuesday Night.

The night kicked off in an emotional mode as the Sharks organization celebrated one of the greatest players the NHL has ever seen, and one of the players who represented the teal core, Joe Thornton, returned to the tank after his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto last week.

FIRST PERIOD

It did not take too long to get the crowd excited. Two minutes into the first period, the Sharks put themselves on the scoreboard. Yaroslav Askarov sent the puck from behind the Sharks net as the LA Kings defenseman, Brandt Clarke, recovered the puck, but San Jose, Ty Dellandrea found his way and set up the play for Adam Gaudette to make it 1 – 0.

LA waited toward the end of the period to make it even, a short-handed goal and deflection along the boards, and stealing the puck from Celebrini allowed the LA Kings, Joel Armia, to take advantage and make it even.

Sharks responded quickly, a shot by Collin Graf appeared to deflect off of Ty Dellandrea and in with coverage around the Kings’ net. Sharks are once again up 2-1 at the end of the first.

SECOND PERIOD

A minute into the period, the Kings tied it up. In the offensive Sharks zone, the veteran Anze Kopitar scored the 2nd for the Kings after taking a pass from Trevor Moore that went through the legs of Yaroslav Askarov.

The Kings scored after Joel Armia took a loose rebound in the Sharks’ net, but it was challenged and after review, the goal was in offside and the score remained 2-2.

The Sharks ended the period one goal up as Phillip Kurashev, assisted by the stars Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith in front of the net, scored the third of the night for the Teal.

THIRD PERIOD

The game remained tied during the course of the period, but the LA Kings showed some more fight. Anze Kopitar netted the 3rd one for the night for the Kings and will send things past the 60-minute mark. the game headed to OT and Penalty Shootout.

Of course, the figures of the night were not Macklin or Will; however, we give them credit for contributing, but the men in action tonight were Phillip Kurashev for giving the winning goal for the Teal, and an absolute performance of Yaroslav Askarov.

This win for the Shark put them in good place to climb up in the standings, Next game is this Saturday Night at home against the Ottawa Senators.