Led by dynamic 19-year-old heart Macklin Celebrini, the San Jose Sharks have been one of many high turnaround tales of the NHL season.
San Jose, which completed simply 20-50-12 and with a league-worst 52 factors final season, goes into its sport on Sunday in opposition to visiting Vegas in third place within the Pacific Division with a 23-18-3 document and 49 factors, simply three factors behind the first-place Golden Knights and two factors behind second-place Edmonton.
The Sharks have gained six of their final seven video games, together with back-to-back come-from-behind time beyond regulation victories at Los Angeles on Wednesday and over the Dallas Stars on Saturday. They seem to have a reputable likelihood of creating the Stanley Cup playoffs for the primary time since 2019.
“We like taking part in good groups, and we like beating good groups, as a result of we’re a great crew,” ahead Adam Gaudette mentioned.
Now comes maybe the most important take a look at of the season for San Jose.
The Golden Knights scored 5 first-period targets en path to a 7-2 victory over the Sharks of their final assembly on Dec. 23 in Las Vegas. They Knights’ level streak in opposition to the Sharks stands at 12 video games.
Nonetheless, due to the play of Celebrini, who’s third within the NHL in scoring behind solely superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid with 70 factors, and a three-game win streak, the Sharks are a assured group heading the Sunday contest.
“There is a massive perception in that dressing room proper now that we will win hockey video games, and we will play with the very best of them,” San Jose coach Ryan Warsofsky mentioned. “That is the most important factor we’re seeing now, is perception.”
The Sharks twice overcame two-goal deficits in opposition to Dallas, which is tied with the Minnesota Wild for the second-most factors (61) within the league. Tyler Toffoli gained it with a one-timer from the excessive slot 1:58 into time beyond regulation. Celebrini picked up his third help on the play.
“Even going into the third interval (trailing 3-2), you felt like we have been going to win the hockey sport,” Warsofsky mentioned. “That was the expectation … and we went out and did that.”
Requested if the Sharks might carry the momentum into Vegas sport, Warsofsky replied merely, “I hope so.”
The Golden Knights additionally herald a three-game profitable streak and are available off a 4-2 win over visiting St. Louis on Saturday evening.
Mark Stone sealed the win for Vegas with a protracted empty-netter to tie the crew document with a purpose in his seventh straight sport, Mitch Marner had a purpose and an help in his 700th profession sport, and Shea Theodore scored what proved to be the game-winner in his first sport again since struggling an upper-body damage on Dec. 13.
“It is all the time good to attain, and to get one your first sport again is one thing that I will attempt to construct on,” Theodore mentioned.
Theodore roofed a wrist shot from the center of the proper circle over the left shoulder of St. Louis goalie Jordan Binnington.
“Favored his sport,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy mentioned of Theodore. “We’re a approach higher crew when he is within the lineup. He is a world-class participant. It is good to have him again.”
-Subject Degree Media
