Tag: Phillip Kurashev

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

Published on by M WalshLeave a comment

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.

Sharks Fall to Golden Knights 4-3 in Season Opener

Published on by M WalshLeave a comment

Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) collides with San Jose Sharks goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (33) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks lost their season opener 4-3 to the Vegas Golden Knights Thursday. Brett Howden, Pavel Dorofeyev, Jack Eichel and Reilly Smith scored for the Golden Knights. Akira Schmid made 20 saves for the win. Jeff Skinner, Alexander Wennberg and Phillip Kurashev scored for the Sharks. Alex Nedeljkovic made 27 saves in the loss.

The Sharks scored first, a goal from Jeff Skinner at 5:31. Skinner batted the puck in off of a high rebound that he created with a shot off the goalie’s pad. Assists went to Ty Dellandrea and Shakir Mukhamadullin.

Vegas tied it at 8:09 with a wrist shot from Brett Howden. Howden picked up the puck near the blue line, off of a failed clear by the Sharks. Howden carried the puck in through traffic and across in front of the blue paint before taking his shot. Assists went to Keegan Kolesar and Ben Hutton.

Mukhamadullin took the only penalty of the first period, high-sticking against Jack Eichel. The Sharks killed that off. The shots were 10-9 Vegas after the first period.

Alexander Wennberg gave the Sharks a 2-1 during a five-on-three power play at 6:59 of the second period. Wennberg caught a rebound from William Eklund’s shot. An assist also went to John Klingberg.

Vegas responded with their own power play goal at 14:22. Pavel Dorofeyev caught a pass that came across the ice from Mark Stone. Jack Eichel got the secondary assist.

The second period shot count was 11-6 Vegas. The Golden Knights took three penalties in the period and the Sharks took two.

Phillip Kurashev scored for the Sharks to make it 3-2 at 2:59 of the third. Kurashev tipped a shot from Dmitry Orlov. Mukhamadullin picked up the secondary assist, his second of the night.

William Eklund missed two shots on an empty net. Moments later, Jack Eichel’s shot from the blue line slipped by Nedeljkovic’s right skate and tied the game with 94 seconds left in regulation.

The teams each took one penalty in the third period. The shots were also even at 8-8.

The game winner came off of Reilly Smith’s stick after Nedeljkovic came all the way out of the net to play the puck but did not do execute his plan well. It was particularly disappointing because the Sharks goaltender had just made a great stop on a two-on-none. An assist went to Shea Theodore.

The Sharks had no shots in overtime.

The Sharks next play on Saturday against the visiting Anaheim Ducks at 7:00 PM PT.