San Jose Sharks Battle Hard, But Fall to Rallying Seattle Kraken at SAP Center
The ice at SAP Center witnessed a spirited contest on Saturday night as the San Jose Sharks went head-to-head with the Seattle Kraken. In a game filled with twists and turns, the Sharks, despite taking a lead into the third period, ultimately succumbed to a determined Kraken comeback, falling 4-2. This marks a frustrating second consecutive loss for the San Jose Sharks, halting their momentum after a promising three-game winning streak.
Early Exchanges and Tolvanen’s Opener
The game opened with both teams battling for control, but it was the Seattle Kraken who broke the deadlock in the second period. Eeli Tolvanen showcased individual brilliance at 6:52, intercepting a pass and speeding down the ice. His precise wrist shot from the top of the right circle found its way through Yaroslav Askarov’s five-hole, giving the Kraken a 1-0 advantage.
“I just hopped on the ice and saw a loose puck. Had a chance and eventually it went in,” Tolvanen reflected on his opening goal.
San Jose Sharks Respond with Power and Grit
Undeterred, the San Jose Sharks clawed their way back. Adam Gaudette capitalized on a power play opportunity at 11:22 of the second. A shot from Macklin Celebrini deflected off a skate, and Gaudette, quick to react, backhanded the puck past Joey Daccord to tie the game at 1-1. The home crowd erupted, sensing a shift in momentum.
“We did a lot of good things, especially in that second period,” Gaudette commented. “We were all over them in their zone, and we thought we could have won that game.”
The Sharks carried this newfound energy into the third period, delivering an early blow just 36 seconds in. After a Kraken turnover, Igor Chernyshov fed Collin Graf in front. Graf’s one-timer hit the post, ricocheted off Daccord, and ultimately found the back of the net off defenseman Adam Larsson – a tough break for Seattle, but a crucial go-ahead goal for the San Jose Sharks.
“It can always be one little bounce that can turn defense and offense,” Graf noted, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of hockey.
Kraken’s Third-Period Surge Douses San Jose Hopes
Despite taking a 2-1 lead, the San Jose Sharks couldn’t stem the tide of a relentless Kraken offence in the final frame. Seattle mounted an impressive rally, scoring three unanswered goals to seal their victory.
- Ryker Evans tied the game at 1:55 with a wrist shot from the left point that beat a screened Askarov.
- Ryan Lindgren gave Seattle the 3-2 lead at 4:27, his wrist shot deflecting off Shakir Mukhamadullin’s skate for his first goal in 33 games.
- Chandler Stephenson, who was a force all night, secured the 4-2 final at 18:36, converting a pass from Tolvanen. Stephenson extended his remarkable point streak to eight games, with five goals and four assists during this run.
Kraken coach Lane Lambert lauded his team’s effort: “Just the effort. There was a lot of commitment. We had a lot of commitment blocking shots. Thought that we stuck with it even when we went down in the third. It was a total team effort.”
For the San Jose Sharks, the loss was particularly disheartening. Coach Ryan Warsofsky expressed his frustration:
“Frustrating. I thought at moments we had some good things going on in our game, and then it was just frustrating.”
Key Takeaways and Player Notes
While the San Jose Sharks couldn’t secure the win, several individual performances stood out:
- Macklin Celebrini continued his impressive run, adding an assist on Gaudette’s goal, extending his point streak to five games (three goals, eight assists).
- Chandler Stephenson‘s offensive prowess was undeniable, scoring for the fourth straight game and pushing his point streak to eight.
- Seattle’s comeback marked their sixth third-period comeback win of the season, tying them with the Vegas Golden Knights for the most in the NHL.
The San Jose Sharks will look to regroup and learn from this tough loss as they continue their NHL campaign. Fans can keep up with the team’s schedule and news on the official NHL website.
