Elias Pettersson #40 of the Vancouver Canucks scores a goal against Yaroslav Askarov #30 of the San Jose Sharks in the second period at SAP Center on November 28, 2025 in San Jose, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Kavin Mistry/NHLI via Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE — The San Jose Sharks returned home after a brief road stint where they made a stop in Colorado to play the NHL’s number one team, the Avalanche. The Sharks played their worst game of the season, losing to the Avs 6-0 in a game where nothing went right for them in a brutal showing.
On Friday, the Sharks looked to get back on track as they welcomed the Vancouver Canucks to the SAP Center for a 1 p.m. puck drop. The Sharks won a thriller on Friday as they defeated the Canucks 3-2 in regulation.
In the first period, it appeared the Sharks were picking up right where they left off in Colorado. The Canucks got out to an early lead as Brock Boeser snuck one past Yaroslav Askarov at the 4:28 mark to start the game. However, the Sharks answered back shortly thereafter as Will Smith buried one in the net at the 9:25 mark of the game to tie the game. Alex Wennberg and Macklin Celebrini assisted on what was Smith’s eighth goal of the season for the Sharks. The Sharks managed to get 12 shots on net in the first period as the Canucks managed only eight, with the game tied at one going into the second period.
In the second period, the Sharks put some pressure on the Canucks after Vancouver scored a quick goal to go back up 2-1 at the 3:04 point in the game. From then on, it was all San Jose in the second. The Sharks tied the game back up at 2-2 when William Eklund scored at the 14:03 mark in the game to get the crowd back into it. Eklund’s sixth goal of the season was assisted by Macklin Celebrini and John Klingberg. The Sharks kept things going as Adam Gaudette scored just over a minute later at the 15:17 mark in the period. Initially, officials ruled it was not a goal, but after review it was determined the puck did cross the line before Vancouver could kick it out. Gaudette’s goal, his sixth of the season, was assisted by Philipp Kurashev and Tyler Toffoli. The Sharks landed seven shots on net in the second period compared to Vancouver’s 13. Through the first two periods, the Canucks had 25 shots on goal, followed by the Sharks with only 19. It had been a nice bounce-back game by Yaroslav Askarov at that point after he allowed five goals to the Avalanche in not even two periods on Wednesday night.
In the third period, the Sharks did a good job neutralizing the Canucks offense. However, the Sharks committed some undisciplined penalties, two of which were by Dmitry Orlov. Orlov’s second penalty came with 4:23 to go in the game as San Jose desperately needed a penalty kill. The Sharks killed that penalty, but the drama wasn’t over yet. Macklin Celebrini, with 1:24 left in the game, was charged with a double minor for cross-checking and unsportsmanlike conduct. From my vantage point, neither of the penalties was warranted, and the crowd broke into “refs you suck” chants that filled the SAP Center. The Sharks managed to weather that until 1.9 seconds left in the game when a massive fight broke out on the boards just behind the San Jose goal. Initially, it seemed the game was over, but the referees put 1.9 seconds back on the clock and issued a series of penalties. San Jose was issued two minor penalties, and the Canucks were charged one, as the Sharks had Macklin Celebrini, Barclay Goodrow, and Ty Dellandrea all in the penalty box to end the game. Yet, the Sharks won the face-off and killed the last 1.9 seconds to win the game 3-2. The Sharks finished the game with 24 shots on goal as Yaroslav Askarov saved 32 of the Canucks’ 34 total shots.
Up Next: The Sharks will travel to Las Vegas to take on the Golden Knights at 7 p.m. PST on the second night of a back-to-back.
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