Things are getting tougher by the game that includes San Jose Sharks captain Macklin Celebrini (71) whose feeling the pain of the Minnesota Wild scoring at the Target Center in St Paul on Fri Nov 6, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Mary Walsh
The San Jose Sharks (7-10-1) lost 4-1 to the Minnesota Wild (12-3-3) on Friday. Kirill Kaprizov, Maxim Shabanov, Quinn Hughes and Zach Bogosian scored for the Wild. Kaprizov had four points in the game and Hughes had three. Jesper Wallstedt made 23 saves for the win. Macklin Celebrini scored for the Sharks. Yaroslav Askarov made 25 saves in the loss.
The Sharks did not play a terrible game. Compared to recent games, they showed more energy and focus. But the Wild were a merciless opponent. After the game, Sharks Captain Macklin Celebrini said: “Not to sound complacent, none of us want to be in this spot, but that’s how it goes sometimes. That’s hockey. You can do all the right things and still lose.”
Sharks defenseman Darnell Nurse said:
“If you’re playing your game more nights than not, you’re going to get the right result more nights than not. There’s areas that we have to clean up. In key moments, special teams can be better, I think, We continue to push five-on-five and create more.”
For the 13th time this season, the Wild scored first. This time, it came on the power play at 7:55, from Kirill Kaprizov. The Wild had a two-man advantage. Kaprizov scored from the right faceoff circle, his second try from there during that power play. Assists went to Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy.
The shots in the first were 11-9 Minnesota. The Sharks had the two overlapping penalties and the Wild had two minors.
Macklin Celebrini tied the game at 12:11 of the second period. After winning an offensive zone faceoff, Celebrini went to the net and tipped a shot from Dmitry Orlov. An assist also went to Will Smith.
Maxim Shabanov gave the Wild the lead with another power play goal at 14:15. Shabanov tipped a shot from Kaprizov. An assist also went to Hughes.
The shots in the second period were 10-10. There were only two penalties called, one to each team.
In the third period, Hughes extended the lead to 1-3 at 6:54. His wrist shot came from the top of the left faceoff circle. Assists went to Kaprizov and Jonas Brodin.
Zach Bogosian made it 4-1 with a slap shot from the outside of the right faceoff circle. Assists went to Joel Eriksson Ek and Kaprizov.
The third period shot count was 8-5 Minnesota. The Sharks took two penalties.
The Sharks next play on Saturday at 5:00 PM PT in Dallas against the Stars.
