The Sharks wrapped up 2025 with a matinee
engagement with the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday afternoon. Like the two
meetings between the two teams earlier in the season, it took extra hockey to
decide the winner of the series finale at SAP Center. San Jos Jose would
prevail for the 3rd time this season, albeit via the shootout to take a 4-3
decision before a sellout holiday crowd.
San Jose beat Minnesota 6-5
on October 26th, then 2-1 on November 11th. Both of those games were at Grand
Caino Area in Minneapolis.
The Wild opened Wednesday's game with the
motivation to take at least one game this season. San Jose had difficulties
moving the puck out of their own end, which kept goaltender Yaroslav Askarov
busy. One of the big differences in the latest meeting was the addition of
defenseman Quinn Hughes. The lanky blueliner adds a scoring dimension to the
Wild that they didn't possess prior. Hughes kept the Sharks on their toes all
game.
Minnesota solved Askarov at 10:38 of the opening period after
Ryan Hartman chipped a puck past a Sharks defender to Vladimir Tarasenko. The
pair raced up ice on a 2-on-1 break but Tarasenko elected to hold the puck and
snap it past Askarov for his 8th goal of the season.
Igor Chernyshov
continued his hot start by scoring his 3rd goal in as many games 74 seconds
into the 2nd period. Macklin Celebrini hit the big Russian with a long lead
pass who as at the Wild blueline. Chrnyshov fought off Quinn Hughes and snapped
a shot from the slot near the left circle, beating Wild goaltender Jesper
Wallstedt.
A Zach Bogosian slashing penalty at 14:50 setup a power
play goal that allowed the Sharks to take the lead. Jeff Skinner gathered a
puck from the right wing boards and skated to the high slot between the circles
before snapping a shot on goal. Recent call-up Pavol Regenda was skating across
the top of the crease as Skinner's shot arrived, beating Wallstedt for his 5th
of the season.
Macklin Celebrini scored his 22nd goal of the season
4:16 into the 3rd period on what should have created ample buffer for the
Sharks to take the game in regulation. Chernyshov intercepted a puck just
outside the Wild blueline, then skated it to the right corner before curling
back behind the net. He spotted Celebrini on the left side, feeding him for a
one-time chance that evaded Wallstedt.
Lesser teams would have rolled
over at that point, but the Wild have the 3rd best record in the NHL for a
reason.
Marcus Foligno scored his 1st goal of the season
with a shot from a tight angle on the right side. The Wild forward lifted a
puck that slipped between Askarov and the right post on the short side.
Celebrini cost the Sharks dearly with 11:13 to play when he tried
clearing his zone with a long pass from behind his own end line. Mats
Zuccarello intercepted the pass near the top of the right circle before taking
a stride on net and rifling it past Askarov to tie the game.
In the
overtime period the Wild had the best chance at ending the game when Hughes
found himself with the puck and nothing but space between him and Askarov. The
defenseman skated up ice, but his attempt was rejected by the Sharks
goaltender.
Minnesota would generate 3 shots in the extra period, to
the Sharks 2 shots.
The contest would be decided in the shootout.
Colin Graff and Zuccarello would miss their chances before Celebrini took a
diagonal angle on the net from the left point and lifted a shot inside the left
post after drawing Wallstedt to the right side.
Matt Boldy missed on
his chance before William Eklund end things with a shot that beat Wallstedt
just under his glove hand.
The win helped San Jose to finish the month
of December with a winning 8-6-0 record. That It was a step down from their
successful 9-5-1 November, but after their horrific start in October, they'll
take net positives months.
Game Notes: * Macklin
Celebrini was officially announced to the Team Canada Olympic roster on
Wednesday morning. He becomes the youngest player named to an Olympic hockey
roster where NHL players participated in the games.
* With his 2
points, Celebrini moved ahead of Steve Yzerman and tied Dale Hawerchuk for most
points by a teenager in a calendar year with 90.
* Igor Chernyshov has
recorded 8 points in his 7 games so far this season. He has recorded 5 points
(3 goals, 2 assists) in his last 3 games. He was originally credited with an
assist on the Jeff Skinner power play goal, but it was later rescinded.
* The Sharks recorded their 20th win, which matched their win total
for the entire 2024-25 season. They did it this season one game shy of the
mid-mark 41st game.
* Jeff Skinner scored his 1st power play goal in
more than one and a half seasons. He did not score one for Edmonton last
season. His power goal gives him 378 career goals, which is tops for the 2010
NHL Draft Class. Tyler Toffoli is 5th on that list with 300 career goals.
