With 10 games remaining in their season, the
Sharks have to start consistently recording standings points if they want any
chance of participating in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They squared off
against division rival Anaheim at SAP Center on Wednesday night in what is
becoming more must win than just another game. They would respond with one of
the most entertaining comebacks of the season, stunning Anaheim with 2 goals in
the final 99 seconds to stun the Ducks 4-3.
Alex Wennberg scored the
game winning goal with 31 seconds left in regulation, but it was Macklin
Celebrini that stole the show. The Sharks youngster scored the game-tying goal
with 1:39 remaining, which was one of 4 points on the night.
The Ducks
are miles ahead of San Jose in what was a rebuild for them that started 4
seasons ago. San Jose showed what the future may hold, with a gritty
performance led by their young superstar.
Celebrini knotted the game
at 3-3 on a snipe from the left side that weaved itself through a sea of
bodies, beating Lukas Dostal for his 40th goal of the season. It also gave him
105 points to move past Erik Karlsson for the 2nd highest point total in a
season. It also marked a 3-game span that has resulted in 5 goals and 4
assists.
Wennberg potted the goal with a snipe from the slot after
Celebrini found him from the right side.
San Jose opened and closed
the game's scoring.
The Ducks came out flying and generated a quality
scoring chance in the first 45 seconds of the game after San Jose turned the
puck over in their own zone. Yaroslav Askarov was then required to make 3
consecutive saves on shots from in tight. The last slipped underneath him but
slid just wide of the left post.
Ty Dellandrea was called for high
sticking at 2:17 giving the Ducks the early man advantage, but Alex Killorn was
whistled for hooking 1:30 into the Ducks power play.
San Jose made the
most of their abridged power play when Will Smith rifled a shot from the high
slot after Macklin Celebrini carried the puck around the back of the Anaheim
net then feeding it out to his linemate. The power play goal was Smith's 22nd
of the season.
Michael Misa was called for hooking at 7:29, then
Dmitry Orlov was sent off for slashing at 9:43 to allow the Ducks an odd-man
advantage for a big chunk of the period. That allowed the Ducks to enjoy a
health gap in shots.
The Sharks looked like they would get to the
first intermission with the lead, but a missed hip check by Orlov allowed Ryan
Poehling to skate past him and snap a shot past Askarov to tie things up at 1-1
with 2:13 left in the period.
The middle period was a knock down, drag out frame
that had Anaheim out-shoot San Jose 9-7.
The Ducks claimed the lead at
14:59 when Drew Helleson spotted Alex Killorn sliding to the net on the left
side with every skater in teal looking to the right side. Helleson snapped a
diagonal pass to his linemate from the top of the right circle, where Killorn
simply tapped the backdoor play home for his 13th goal of the season.
Celebrini tied the game at 2-2 just 27 seconds in to the 3rd period after Ian
Moore failed to clear his own zone. Collin Graf scooped it up on the right side
before sliding it to Smith in the slot. Smith had a look off the right post,
but elected to pass it back to Celebrini for a one-time chance from the slot
that beat Dostal.
Troy Terry answered less than 4 minutes later to
help Anaheim reclaim the lead. Orlov once again lost control of the puck,
allowing the Ducks veteran to put a pair of shots on net for the unassisted
goal.
It was the Celebrini and Wennberg show from that point.
Game Notes: * Ty Dellandrea made his return to the lineup after
missing 30 games after sustaining a torn PCL in early January in the sharks 5-2
win over Columbus.
* Igor Chernyshov missed the game as he battles an
illness.
* The Ducks were without Cutter Gauthier, Radko Gudas and
Pavel Mintyukov. All are dealing with lower body injuries. The Leafs beat the
snot out of Gudas on Monday in retaliation for his hit on Auston Matthews,
which ended the Leaf Captain's season.
* Will Smith recorded a goal
and 2 assists. It was the 3rd straight game that Smith recorded a pair of
assists.
* Alex Wennberg has recorded 4 goals and 2 assists over his
last 4 games.
