Another great night in net by Askarov paves the way for Sharks 3-1 win over Bruins

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the Boston Bruins during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) (Jeff Chiu/AP)

By Lincoln Juarez

SAN JOSE, Calif – Yaroslav Askarov owned the crease Sunday night as the Sharks continued to see scoring from up and down the lineup with Shakir Mukhamadullin’s first of the season. San Jose gained a place in the standings after a big night to end the homestand with smiles all around with a 3-1 win over the Boston Bruins.

Looking to win their third game of a four game homestand, the Sharks (10-9-3) matched up against the Bruins (13-10-0). The Ottawa Senators took a close one Saturday night 3-2, but the Sharks hoped to turn the page and beat a good Bruins team on Sunday. San Jose opened up with their second line on the ice which included Alex Wennberg, who was playing in his 100th game as a Shark.

Early offensive pressure and a physical fourth line of Goodrow, Ostapchuk, and Reaves led to a few Sharks power plays. The 10th ranked Bruins penalty kill kept the Sharks scoreless on the power play in the first (0-for-2). However, it was right after team teal’s second try on the man advantage that Shakir Mukhamadullin scored his first goal of the season. It was Mukhamadullin (1) from Mario Ferraro (5) and Barclay Goodrow (2) at 15:53 of the first period.

The Sharks out-shot the Bruins 12-10 in the first period and left the ice with a 1-0 lead.

Things slowed down for the Sharks in the first half of the second period. The Bruins tallied a lot of shots forcing Sharks goaltender, Yaroslav Askarov to stay strong in net. He came up huge with what seemed to be his best save of the night, to keep Boston from tying the game, on a one-time shot by David Pastrnak.

Askarov was also a dominant factor of the Sharks penalty kill as they forced the Bruins to go 0-for-2 on the power play in the second period, while Askarov stopped five Bruin shots down a man.

Boston was held scoreless in the second period and trailed 2-0 heading into the second intermission thanks to Macklin Celebrini’s 14th goal of the season, on the power play, from Orlov (13) and Toffoli (7). Celebrini’s goal was a product of the momentum shift in the second for the Sharks, following Dmitry Orlov’s disruptive hit on Sean Kuraly which led to Ty Dellandrea drawing the penalty for the ensuing power play.

The Sharks defense took charge in the third period in front of Yaroslav Askarov who described his d-men as “unreal” tonight. Every attack by the Bruins in the offensive zone was answered with physicality and tight pressure. Askarov turned away nine of 10 shots he faced in the final period including another cross-crease, one-time save which triumphed over his save on Pastrnak in the second.

It was Pastrnak assisting on Morgan Geekie’s goal to bring the Bruins within one with some time left in regulation. The Sharks stood strong and turned down Boston’s attempt to tie the game. Colin Graf added his name to the score sheet with an empty-net goal to put the game away and send a packed SAP Center home happy.

Askarov stopped 34 of 35 shots he faced and the Sharks penalty kill snubbed the Bruins man advantage as they went 0-for-3 on the power play.

Team teal wrapped up the four game homestand with three wins in an effort to re-establish a home ice advantage in San Jose. “We feel the tank has got some energy back,” said head coach Ryan Warsofsky. “We want to run with the energy and use it as our advantage and make it a tough place to play.” he added as his team has won six of eight home games in the month of November with one left to play.

The Sharks will hit the road before the Thanksgiving break in Colorado to face the Avalanche for the second time this season after their 3-2 overtime win at SAP Center on November 1st.

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