Macklin Celebrini #71 of the San Jose Sharks between plays in the first period against the Edmonton Oilers at SAP Center on April 8, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Kavin Mistry/NHLI via Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SAN JOSE — On Wednesday night, the San Jose Sharks faithful filed into the stands in anticipation of the team’s matchup against the Edmonton Oilers. There was an air of optimistic anxiety in the building as the Sharks entered the game three points back of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference with just six games to go in the season.

The Sharks, after all, are ahead of schedule. Regardless of whether San Jose makes or misses out on the playoffs, the season has to be seen as a success by the fans, ownership, and management. Yet, Sharks fans are desperate for another shot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Sharks have not seen the playoffs since the 2018-19 season, when they lost to the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference Final, which led to the full rebuild of the club.

The anxiety in the Tank quickly turned to angst as the Oilers defeated the Sharks 5-2 behind a Connor McDavid two-assist, three-goal game to lead Edmonton.

In the first period, the Sharks got off to a quick start as Macklin Celebrini found the back of the net on a wrister from Dmitry Orlov and Will Smith. It was Celebrini’s 42nd goal of the season. The goal came on a power play after the Oilers were hit with too many men on the ice. After the Sharks took the early lead, Edmonton answered right back with a goal of their own, scored by Connor McDavid and assisted by Evan Bouchard and Vasily Podkolzin. It was an effective answer from the Oilers as they gained the momentum right back after the Sharks seized it. However, Edmonton wasn’t done yet in the first period. The Oilers scored a second goal, by Vasily Podkolzin, from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid.

Trailing 2-1 heading into the second period, the Sharks failed to reclaim the momentum. However, the Oilers came out in the second period and scored a quick goal at the 16:27 mark of the period. Jack Roslovic found the back of the net on a nice backhand shot from Connor McDavid to give the Oilers a 3-1 advantage. It was Roslovic’s 21st goal of the season and Connor McDavid’s third point of the game at that point. The Sharks answered right back as Kiefer Sherwood tipped in an Alex Wennberg shot for the goal. It was Sherwood’s 23rd goal of the season and sixth goal for the Sharks as Wennberg and William Eklund were credited with the assists.

From that point on, it was all bad news for the Sharks.

Connor McDavid took over the game for the rest of the second period, scoring two more goals to pull the Oilers ahead by three heading into the second intermission. McDavid’s third goal of the game came on a wrister at the 16:07 mark of the period that was assisted by Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm. McDavid’s final goal of the game came at the 6:47 mark of the second period on another wrist shot. It was good for a McDavid hat trick and his 47th goal of the season. McDavid’s goal was assisted by Jack Roslovic, which was his second point of the game.

In the third period, nothing happened for either team. The Sharks looked dejected and gassed, and the Oilers seemed to keep the Sharks out of their zone well in the final frame. The Sharks had only four shots on goal the entire third period and ultimately fell to the Oilers 5-2 at home.

The Sharks were led in defeat by Macklin Celebrini and Kiefer Sherwood, who each scored goals in the game.

For Edmonton, it was a legacy-type performance from their best player, Connor McDavid. McDavid finished the game with five points on three goals and two assists. Other notable performances came from Vasily Podkolzin and Jack Roslovic, who each finished the game with two points of their own, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added a point.

When it was all said and done, the Sharks trailed the Oilers in shots on goal 14-26 as Edmonton nearly doubled the Sharks’ chances on net.

With the loss, the Sharks fell to 37-33-7 and sit with 81 points, which is three points behind the Nashville Predators (84) for the second wild-card spot.

The Sharks will travel to Anaheim on Wednesday evening to take on the Ducks at 7 p.m. PST on Thursday at Honda Center.