Sharks Fall 6-2 to Ducks to Start Preseason

Anaheim Ducks Beckett Sennecke (45) and the San Jose Sharks Nolan Allan (5) stay alert for the puck during exhibition NHL action at the Arrowhead Duck Pond in Anaheim on Sun Sep 20, 2026 (San Jose Sharks X photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks lost 6-2 to the Anaheim Ducks Sunday afternoon. It was the Sharks’ first game of the 2026 preseason. Ducks goals came from Jackson LaCombe, Leo Carlsson, and Tristan Luneau, with a hat trick from Beckett Sennecke. Laurent Brossoit was in net for Anaheim. Eric Pohlkamp, and Jimmy Huntington scored for the Sharks. Goaltender Eric Comrie played the first half of the game and Matthew Davis was in net for the second half. Despite the score, the young Sharks squad acquitted themselves well against a more veteran Ducks lineup.

The Sharks took an early lead with a goal from Eric Pohlkamp at 1:37. Ethan Cardwell got the assist.

Anaheim tied the game at 2:57 with a snap shot from Jackson LaCombe. Assists went to Cutter Gauthier and Tristan Luneau.

The Ducks took the lead at 6:07 when Leo Carlsson scored with a snap shot, assisted by Drew Helleson and Nikita Klepov.

At the end of the first period, the Ducks lead on the scoreboard 2-1 and the shot clock 9-3. The Sharks had the only power play in the period when Roger McQueen was called for hooking Zack Ostapchuk at 16:06.

The Sharks had a another power play at 8:41 of the second period when Beckett Sennecke also hooked Ostapchuk.

The Sharks changed goaltenders at the halfway mark, putting Matthew Davis in the net.

Seconds after play resumed, Jimmy Huntington tied the game for San Jose on a breakaway at 11:05. Brett Leason got the assist.

The first Sharks penalty was called against Libor Hajek, for interference on Nikita Nesterenko. This allowed the Ducks take the lead back with a power play goal at 12:15. Sennecke scored with a wrist shot, assisted by Carlsson and LaCombe.

Sennecke padded that lead with his second of the game at 16:07. His slap shot was set up by Luneau and Nico Myatovic.

The shots were much closer in the second period, 14-11 Ducks. The third period opened with an early fight between Travis Mitchell and Andre Gasseau.

The Sharks killed their second penalty of the game early in the third. Anthony Vincent was called for interference on Leo Carlsson at 3:04.

Sennecke completed a natural hat trick at 8:10 of the third period with a backhander assisted by Granlund and Myatovic.

Luneau made it 6-2 for Anaheim at 13:44 with a slap shot from just below the blue line. Alex Killorn got the assist.

The Sharks killed a third penalty after Ethan Cardwell was called for high-sticking Stian Solberg at 14:40.

The Sharks play their next preseason game on Tuesday in San Jose at 7:00 PM PT against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Mary Lisa Walsh covers the San Jose Sharks road games for the 2026-27 season at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Stars-Kraken battle in elimination game tonight in Seattle; Will Ruff return as New Jersey coach; plus more

Seattle Kraken right wing Jordan Eberle (7) scores as Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24) and defenseman Esa Lindell (23) watch during the first period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series Saturday, May 13, 2023, in Seattle. (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup playoff podcast:

#1 It’s a thriller and a huge game tonight with the Seattle Kraken and the Dallas Stars who play for all the marbles tonight for the Western Conference second round. This is a real head to head with the series with the Kraken defeating the Stars in their last match up in game 6 in Seattle to stay in the series.

#2 The Stars are 3-5 in game sevens since moving from Minnesota in 1993-94 where they are 2-2 at home, the Stars lost last year’s game 7 to the Calgary Flames 3-2 at Scotiabank Saddledome.

#3 The Stars took that tough loss to the Kraken in game 6, 6-3 and forced a game 7, the Stars got a goal from Joe Pavelski his eighth of the post season but it was the turnovers that hurt the Stars in this last contest.

#4 The New Jersey Devils head coach Lindy Ruff may not know if he’ll be back next season but Ruff did lead the Devils to their best season in 41 years going 52-22-8 a 49 point improvement from last season. It also was the first time that New Jersey had qualified for the playoffs since 2018.

#5 Taking a look at some possible draft picks for the San Jose Sharks, as you know Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli are not joining the Sharks in the draft. However taking a look at some draft possibilities Will Smith, Leo Carlsson, or Matvei Michkov. How would one of these players be of a big help for San Jose?

Join Marko for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcasts heard Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup playoff podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Kraken-Stars battle tonight in elimination game in Dallas; plus more NHL news

Seattle Kraken right wing Jordan Eberle (7) scores as Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24) and defenseman Esa Lindell (23) watch during the first period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series Saturday, May 13, 2023, in Seattle. (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup playoff podcast:

#1 It’s a thriller and a huge game tonight with the Seattle Kraken and the Dallas Stars who play for all the marbles tonight for the Western Conference second round. This is a real head to head with the series with the Kraken defeating the Stars in their last match up in game 6 in Seattle to stay in the series.

#2 The Stars are 3-5 in game sevens since moving from Minnesota in 1993-94 where they are 2-2 at home, the Stars lost last year’s game 7 to the Calgary Flames 3-2 at Scotiabank Saddledome.

#3 The Stars took that tough loss to the Kraken in game 6, 6-3 and forced a game 7, the Stars got a goal from Joe Pavelski his eighth of the post season but it was the turnovers that hurt the Stars in this last contest.

#4 The New Jersey Devils head coach Lindy Ruff may not know if he’ll be back next season but Ruff did lead the Devils to their best season in 41 years going 52-22-8 a 49 point improvement from last season. It also was the first time that New Jersey had qualified for the playoffs since 2018.

#5 Taking a look at some possible draft picks for the San Jose Sharks, as you know Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli are not joining the Sharks in the draft. However taking a look at some draft possibilities Will Smith, Leo Carlsson, or Matvei Michkov. How would one of these players be of a big help for San Jose?

Join Marko for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcasts heard Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com