Category: NHL

Drama Until Shootout- Sharks lose to the Red Wings 3-2

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By Fernando Abarca

San Jose Sharks Defenseman John Klingberg and Red Wing center Marco Kasper battle the puck during the first period of the game at SAP Center in San Jose, California on Nov 2nd 2025

SAN JOSE, CA –– The San Jose Sharks started off the new month with high hopes and another win as they hosted the Colorado Avalanche Saturday night. On Sunday Night, another test against another tough rival, the Detroit Red Wings. The visitors enter this game with an 8-4-0 record (2nd in the Atlantic Division). The Sharks after winning two straight dropped a close one to Detroit 3-2.

Also the Sharks celebrate Hockey Fights Cancer, an initiative by the NHL to raise awareseness and funds for cancer research and celebrate those who have survived against this disease.

The first period was very even between the two teams, with five shots on goal apiece, resulting in a scoreless draw at the end of the period. Both teams were feeling each other out, and the Sharks were trying to leverage their home-ice advantage.

During the 2nd period, Detroit managed to get on the board first, with Lucas Raymond putting the visitors ahead 1-0, which would remain in favor of the visitors until the end of the period.

At the start of the Third, the Sharks did not shy away and came back in the game. Jeff Skinner deflected, helping the Sharks to tie it up with a play set by P. Kurashev, D. Orlov. The Red Wings responded quickly, taking advantage of the defensive mistakes by the Sharks, and Moritz Seider put the Red Wings back up by one.

The Sharks responded by again, Sam Dickinson recorded his first NHL goal at a moment the Sharks needed it the most, to tie this game up again. The pace of the game picked up, chances increased for both sides, and it became clear the game could be decided beyond regulation.

The Sharks responded well to the pressure, but ultimately, the Teal folded with no score during the shootout. Unfortunately, the team could not make a consecutive win, but clearly the underdog Sharks pushed to the limit a Detroit team that is sitting top of the standings in their division.

The Sharks are on the road for the next game at Seattle and will try to get another win. The Teal returns home against Winnipeg on Nov 7.

Utah Mammoth post game wrap: Lighting Strikes Mammoth 4-2 To End Home Winning Streak

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Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) moves the puck against the Utah Mammoth right win Nick Schmaltz (8) in the first period at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Sun Nov 2, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Tom Walker

SALT LAKE CITY–Tampa Bay’s Jake Guentzel breaks the tie with under eight minutes remaining beating Utah 4-2 at the Delta Center on Sunday night.

The Utah Mammoth took a four-game winning streak on the road with them following a 4-3 overtime win against the Colorado Avalanche on October 21. Since then the Mammoth have remained hot, winning three of four away from Delta Center, while locking up another key member of their young core for eight years.

It all began on October 23 in St. Louis with a 7-4 routing of the Blues. After assisting on an early first period goal by defenseman Ian Cole, Utah forward Logan Cooley scored his first natural hat trick in a four minute 48 second span as the Mammoth never looked back while extending their winning streak to five.

Two days later in Minnesota, Cooley lit the lamp twice in the first three and a half minutes as Utah defeated the Wild 6-2 while upping their streak to six. The next day Utah would make it seven, cooling the Jets in Winnipeg with a 3-2 victory over last season’s Presidents’ Trophy winners. The Mammoth wrapped up their four-game road trip in Edmonton where the Oilers halted the streak, defeating Utah 6-3.

Upon returning to Salt Lake City, Logan Cooley and the Mammoth agreed on an eight year, $80 million contract extension which will keep the team’s dynamic young core together for the next several years.

After four days off to recover from the road trip, Utah (8-3-0) welcomed the Tampa Bay Lightning (5-4-2) to Delta Center on Sunday afternoon for a one-game homestand.

It is still difficult to look at the Lightning lineup without Steven Stamkos who is now in his second season with the Nashville Predators after 16 seasons in Tampa Bay. It was a milestone game for two Utah players as Nick Schmaltz played his 600th career game while Kevin Stenlund appeared in his 300th.

Mammoth forward Lawson Crouse gave Utah the first lead of the game at 5:55 of the first period when defenseman Ian Cole fed him the puck on a breakaway for his second goal of the season. Lightning netminder Jonas Johansson had no chance as Crouse fired a perfect top shelf corner strike over Johannson’s right shoulder.

At 15:17 of the frame, just seconds after killing off a bench minor for too many men on the ice, Tampa Bay forward Yanni Gourde evened the score at 1-1 with his third goal of the season, assisted by Emil Lilleberg and Zemgus Girgensons who had just emerged from the box after serving the penalty. Utah netminder Karel Vejmelka would finish the period turning away 8 of 9 shots while Johansson stopped 5 of 6 for the Lightning.

Tampa Bay forward Anthony Cirelli gave the Lightning their first lead of the game at 2:47 of the second period, his 7th of the season, assisted by Jake Guentzel and Victor Hedman. Other than that, the two goalies held their respective ground in the frame with Johansson turning away all 9 shots faced in the period and Vejmelka stopping 9 of 10.

At 2:21 of the third period, Utah forward Kailer Yamamoto tied things up again with his first goal of the season, with defenseman Ian Cole picking up his 2nd assist of the night. Coming less than 24 hours after another Yamamoto – Yoshinobu Yamamoto of Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers – picked up his 3rd World Series victory against the Toronto Blue Jays along with series MVP honors, one could wonder whether a Mammoth comeback was in store with Yamamoto figuring in the headline, but it wasn’t to be.

With just under 8 minutes remaining in the period, Jake Guentzel put the puck past Vejmelka for his fifth of the season, unassisted. With Vejmelka pulled for the extra attacker, Lightning forward knocked his fourth goal of the season into the empty net to secure the victory and to end the Mammoth home win streak at four. Utah could never get its power play going, falling to 8-for-41 (19.5%) on the season.

In the home locker room, Ian Cole was asked about the team’s poor start in the second period. “Yeah, I think you could argue it was probably average all the way through. They’re a good hockey team, and we did too many things to shoot ourselves in the foot today. We’ll have to obviously look at the game and assess it and hopefully bring a better game against Buffalo.” Cole didn’t think where were any particular takeaways from the game. “I don’t think there’s one glaring thing necessarily,” Cole said, “but there are little things all over the ice. There’s puck battles for one, and I think reloads for two. They’re beating guys up the ice, and our neutral zone wasn’t great. There’s a lot of things where we can improve. Nothing was glaringly horrible, but not good enough to beat a very skilled, very good hockey team.” Commenting on Tampa Bay’s aggressive play, Cole added, “They have played the same way for maybe 10 years now. So nothing they did was shocking, and there was nothing they did that we were unprepared for, or shouldn’t have been prepared for. This wasn’t our best game, and we know that. Now we have to respond. We can’t let two (losses) turn into three, turn to four, turn to five. That’s how you find yourself out of a playoff spot. So we have to fix this right away.”

Utah Mammoth Head Coach André Tourigny tried to put things in perspective. “I think it was a good game. I think Tampa is a really good team. If you look at their metrics, they are number one offensively in the league, number three defensively in every underlying number. We knew it would be a good test. I think we were toe-to-toe with them. They scored with seven to go, but we were pretty close. Just would love to have us going in the other direction. I think we can be a little bit more physical in our forecheck and a little bit better in our forecheck.” Making a similar observation as Cole, Tourigny said, “They play heavy. They make good plays on the breakout. They hold on to the puck. You have to go to work. You won’t surprise that team with just your skill. They have skill too. That’s the biggest thing when you play against Tampa, you always think of their skill. They have skill, but what they do is they work and they don’t give you time and space. You need to grind the game, and I’m really happy about the way Crouser’s line played. Really happy about the way Stenny’s line played. I think Yammy played a hell of a game. They showed up in that kind of a game, and that’s what you want.”

The Mammoth (8-4-0) go back on the road beginning Tuesday against the Sabres in Buffalo, followed by a swing through Canada against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, and Ottawa Senators before returning to Utah on November 12 for games against the Sabres and New York Rangers.

Tom Walker is a Utah Mammoth beat writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Weather Avalanche to Win 3-2 in OT, Kurashev Scores Twice

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San Jose Sharks center Philipp Kurashev (96) takes a shot that goes past Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (39) for a goal in overtime at SAP Center in San Jose on Sat Nov 1, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks defeated the Colorado Avalanche in overtime in Saturday afternoon 3-2. Macklin Celebrini and Phillip Kurashev scored for San Jose. Yaroslav Askarov made 36 saves for the win. Martin Necas and Nathan MacKinnon scored for Colorado. Mackenzie Blackwood made 20 saves in the loss. The win ended a 12 game losing streak for the Sharks against the Avalanche.

The Sharks looked outmatched in the first two periods, but the game did not get away from them. After the game, Macklin Celebrini said: “I think we were just asleep at the start. I think, I mean I know I wasn’t playing my best by any means. I thought we just did a good job weathering it.”

A big part of weathering the Avalanche fell to Yaroslav Askarov and his 36 saves. Of his own performance in Saturday’s 1:00pm game, he said: “Today felt great. I wish we would have more like morning games.” He laughed.

Just 30 seconds in to the game, Martin Necas took a shot from the left circle that went through traffic and off the far post. Assists went to Cale Makar and Devon Toews.

Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren was on the bench when he was struck by a deflected puck and had to leave the game at 17:05 with an upper body injury. He did not return to the game.

At 18:21, Macklin Celebrini tied it. Tyler Toffoli skated into the zone on the right side and passed the puck back to Celebrini as center entered the zone to take a shot right down the middle. Assists went to Toffoli and Shakir Mukhamadullin.

The Sharks were outshot in the first, 15-6, not getting their first shot until after the six-minute mark.

The Sharks took the lead with a goal from Phillip Kurashev at 4:07 of the second period. That goal made it a three-game goal streak for Kurashev. Assists went to Ty Dellandrea and John Klingberg.

Colorado’s second goal came on a disputed play. Nathan MacKinnon had not yet taken the shot when the Sharks net was knocked from its moorings by Askarov. No one pushed Askarov into the post, so that could be why the goal was not waived off. The goal was deemed an Awarded Goal.

The Sharks were outshot again in the second period, 15-5. They had one penalty to kill and no power plays. In the third period, the shots were a little closer, 9-7 Sharks. The Avalanche took two penalties in the third but killed them both off.

Almost halfway through overtime, Phillip Kurashev scored the OT winner off the rush, shooting past Cale Makar’s stick and sending the puck off the far post and in. An assist went to Alexander Wennberg.

The Sharks next play on Sunday at 5:00 PM PT, hosting the Detroit Red Wings in San Jose.

San Jose Sharks podcast Mary Lisa: Sharks open up the first of back to back games; SJ faces Colorado in matinee today

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San Jose Sharks center Tyler Toffoli (73)celebrates with teammates after scoring in the second period against the New Jersey Devils at SAP Center in San Jose on Thu Oct 30, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Jose Sharks podcast Mary Lisa:

#1 How can Macklin Celebrini’s speed and shot‑volume help the Sharks challenge Colorado’s defence and spark their transition game?

#2 With veteran forward Tyler Toffoli in the lineup, how might the Sharks lean on his experience to create scoring chances against a top‐tier team like the Avalanche?

#3 On the back end, how will John Klingberg and his right‑shot defence partner adapt their breakout strategy to match Colorado’s speed and puck‑movement?

#4 What role is likely for newcomer Jeff Skinner in the Sharks’ top‑six, and how might he exploit the Avalanche’s weaknesses near the net or on the power‑play?

#5 Between the pipes, if Alex Nedeljkovic gets the start, what mental and tactical adjustments will he need to make facing a high‐scoring Colorado offence to give San Jose a chance?

Mary Lisa does the San Jose Sharks podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast Lincoln Juarez: Nedeljkovic key factor in keeping New Jersey out of the nets on Thursday

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San Jose Sharks left winger William Eklund (72) scores on the New Jersey goaltender Jake Allen (34) in the first period at SAP Center in San Jose on Thu Oct 30, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Jose Sharks podcast Lincoln Juarez:

#1 How quickly did William Eklund score for the Sharks, and in what fashion did he get that goal?

#2 The two Sharks were really moving offensively against New Jersey the two Sharks players who scored a goal and an assist each from the match they were Alex Wennberg and Philipp Kurashev,

#3 Sharks’ goalie Alex Nedeljkovic saved 29 shots out 31 shots and was the key figure keeping the Devils out of the nets on Thursday night.

#4 What milestone did Alexander Wennberg achieve during this game while also contributing offensively?

#5 The Sharks begin the first of back to back games starting with the Colorado Avalanche Saturday at 1pm and on Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings at 5pm. Do you see the Sharks handling these two teams much like they did against New Jersey?

Join Lincoln Juarez for the San Jose Sharks podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Ignite a 5-2 Win Against the New Jersey Devils

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William Eklund celebrates his goal at SAP Center during the first period on Oct 30, 2025 (AP Photo)

By: Fernando Abarca (Sharks Beat writer)

SAN JOSE, CA– Thursday Night Hockey at the tank is always a great plan when the Teal win at home.

The San Jose Sharks were on a mission — and by the end of the night, they could proudly say, “Mission accomplished.” The Teal finally captured their first home win of the season, bouncing back impressively after a close loss to the Kings earlier in the week. Coming into this matchup against one of the top teams in the Metropolitan Division, the Sharks were certainly not the favorites — but they proved that determination and energy can flip any script.

Adding a touch of nostalgia, San Jose debuted their long-awaited throwback jerseys — and perhaps, just perhaps, they brought a little bit of luck with them. It was a touch of nostalgia in the game too as the Sharks who had not won a regulation game at home this season defeated the New Jersey Devils 5-2 at SAP Center.

The Sharks wasted no time making their presence felt. Just 42 seconds into the first period, William Eklund struck with a quick response, once again proving to be a key figure for this young San Jose squad. His early goal gave the Sharks exactly what they needed — momentum and belief.

Throughout the opening period, San Jose’s offense looked as sharp and cohesive as it has all season. Despite facing a tough and evenly matched opponent, the Sharks showcased a different mindset — faster, more aggressive, and more dominant. Their efforts paid off as Philipp Kurashev and Alexander Wennberg each found the back of the net before the end of the period, giving San Jose a commanding 3–0 lead heading into intermission.

The Devils responded early in the second period, taking advantage of a power-play opportunity when Dawson Mercer buried a shot to cut the deficit to 3–1. But the Sharks didn’t flinch. They stayed aggressive and continued to attack, with Will Smith and Tyler Toffoli each adding goals to extend the lead and reaffirm their importance to the team’s offensive core.

The third period tested the Sharks’ composure, as the Devils pressed hard to get back into the game. making several key saves to preserve the lead and keep San Jose in control. The defensive unit also stepped up, blocking shots and maintaining structure even as New Jersey increased the pressure late.

When the final horn sounded, the crowd at SAP Center erupted in celebration. The 5–2 victory wasn’t just another regular-season win — it felt symbolic. For a team that has struggled to find consistency early in the season, this performance showcased what the Sharks are capable of when their offense clicks and their energy stays high… as it should.

This home victory could very well mark the beginning of something positive for San Jose. With young stars like Eklund and Smith leading the charge, and veterans such as Toffoli and Wennberg providing experience and scoring touch, the Sharks showed balance, depth, and hunger. If they can carry this momentum forward, the Teal might just start seeing new things.

As the players saluted their fans at center ice, after the game, there was a sense of renewed belief in the building — a reminder that even in a long season, one big win can change everything.

November is going to start strong at the Tank as the Sharks welcome the Colorado Avalanche to kick off the month with perhaps another win.

San Jose Sharks podcast Fernando Abaraca: Sharks take on one of the NHL’s best New Jersey tonight

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Los Angeles Kings left wing Jeff Malott (39) battles for the puck with the San Jose Sharks defenseman Sam Dickinson in Tue Oct 28, 2025 at SAP Center (AP News photo)

San Jose Sharks podcast Fernando Abarca:

#1 The Sharks trailed 3-0 but managed to tie the game before ultimately losing 4-3. Which two Sharks players each recorded a goal and an assist to fuel the comeback?

#2 Sharks forward Will Smith scored to make it 3-1 in the second period. Who made the cross-ice pass that set up his one-timer?

#3 The game-winning goal was scored by a Kings defenseman with about 6:40 remaining. Which Sharks goaltender did he beat, and from where did he release the shot?

#4 Which Sharks player assisted on the tying goal (to make it 3-3) in the third period, and at what time did that goal occur?

#5 According to the recap, the Sharks were out-shot by a very large margin yet nearly recovered. What was the shot count disparity (Sharks vs. Kings), and how many saves did the Sharks’ goaltender record?

Fernando Abarca does the San Jose Sharks podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast Len Shapiro: Sharks face New Jersey for second time in a week; NJ one of the toughest teams in the NHL

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San Jose Sharks goaltender Araslav Askarov (30) can’t stop the shot of the Los Angeles Kings Brandt Clarke who shot it from the right circle at 6:40 in the third period for the tiebreaker. (AP News photo)

San Jose Sharks podcast Len Shapiro:

#1 The Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night had blown a three goal lead letting the San Jose Sharks catch up to tie it up 3-3 but the Kings Brent Clarke scored late in the game for the game winner beating the Sharks 4-3.

#2 With the loss the Sharks now have dropped their last three games in a row losing to the New York Islanders and Minnesota Wild on the road and the Kings on Tuesday.

#3 In the final 1:16 of the game the Kings got hit for a delay a game after Joel Edmundson got called for delay of game for flipping the puck over the glass and into the fans seats. The Sharks couldn’t capitalize on the power play taking six shots and failed to score.

#4 San Jose got scoring from Will Smith, Philipp Kurashev and Alexander Wennberg who each scored a goal a piece. The Sharks missed out missing four clean shots in that 57 second span during the first period. The Sharks currently are the only team in the NHL that have not won a game in regulation.

#5 The Sharks are back for their second of four home games. Thursday they’ll face off against the New Jersey Devils. The last time they faced New Jersey it wasn’t even a contest losing 3-1 on Fri Oct 24. New Jersey one of the most successful team in the NHL are 7-1.

Join Len Shapiro for the San Jose Sharks podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Tough and Tight Battle of California: Sharks Lose Against to LA Kings 4-3

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San Jose Sharks forward Will Smith (2) battled against the Los Angeles Kings had a one goal at SAP Center in San Jose on Tue Oct 28, 2025

By Fernando Abarca

SAN JOSE, CA– The Sharks are back in town after a miraculous trip on the East Coast, where the Teal finally won a game. Tuesday night, the Teal hosts the LA Kings in another edition of the “Battle of California.” in home ice. A late goal in the third period by the Kings Brent Clark was all LA needed to edge the Sharks 4-3 at SAP Center.

Last time the Kings were in town, the Sharks lost 8-1. The Kings have won three of their last four games, sitting fifth in the Western Conference standings. San Jose saw this matchup as a chance to turn things around in front of their home crowd, but Los Angeles stayed composed and capitalized on key moments to secure the win.

For Los Angeles, the victory brings them closer to the top half of the Pacific Division standings and shows their growing consistency after a shaky start to the year.

It was a tightly contested matchup, with both teams exchanging goals throughout the game. The Kings opened the scoring in the first period with a goal from Corey Perry at 10:54, taking an early 1–0 lead. San Jose responded in the second period with two goals to briefly take control after being 3-0 in the 2nd period, each team scored once in the third period, leaving the Sharks just a goal shy of a comeback.

Despite being heavily outshot, 41 shots on goal for San Jose compared to 14 for Los Angeles, the Sharks could not convert enough opportunities to secure the win, highlighting the ongoing challenges in turning offensive pressure into results.

Statistically, the Sharks have struggled defensively this season, allowing one of the highest goals-against averages in the league, while still managing a solid scoring output. Players like Macklin Celebrini continue to lead the offense, but the team’s defensive lapses and inconsistency in goaltending have been costly.

Looking ahead, the Sharks need to tighten up their defensive structure, capitalize more effectively on scoring chances, and improve their penalty killing. With more home games coming up, they have a chance to build momentum and convert effort into points.

This game showed they can compete with tough teams like the Kings and show battle and heart, but translating competitiveness into consistent wins will be key if the Sharks hope to climb the Western Conference standings.

Sharks hockey is back on Thursday night and will head into a tough test against the New Jersey Devils. New Jersey is riding high and has looked sharp on both ends of the ice, while San Jose will look to rebound and avoid letting another close game slip away.

The key for the Sharks will be shutting down high‑danger chances, staying disciplined with the puck, and avoiding penalties. If they can bring the same offensive push from the Kings game and shore up the defensive lapses, they have a chance to steal one to bring one win at home for once in the first month of the season.

San Jose Sharks podcast Fernando Abarca: Sharks looking for Celebrini and Eklund to lead the charge

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San Jose Sharks William Eklund seen here firing the puck against the Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (left) and Wild center Marco Rossi (23) in the second period at the Target Center on Sun Oct 26, 2025. Eklund is expected to a have a big offensive season. (AP News photo)

San Jose Sharks podcast Fernando Abarca:

#1 How has rookie forward Macklin Celebrini performed in the early part of the 2025-26 season, and what milestone did he achieve in his recent stretch?

#2 What were the career-high numbers put up by forward William Eklund in the 2024-25 season, and how did the team respond contract-wise?

#3 Veteran winger Tyler Toffoli had a recent slump. What broke that slump and how have his contributions looked in his role so far this season?

#4 Former San Jose Shark Defenseman Erik Karlsson was mentioned as having a tougher time in recent deployment. What metric was used to highlight his struggles?

#5 Which Sharks rookie forward besides Celebrini showed strong multi-point streaks and shot totals recently, and how is his development characterised?

Fernando Abarca is a San Jose Sharks beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com