Led by dynamic 19-year-old center Macklin Celebrini, the San Jose Sharks have been one of the top turnaround stories of the NHL season.
San Jose, which finished just 20-50-12 and with a league-worst 52 points last season, goes into its game on Sunday against visiting Vegas in third place in the Pacific Division with a 23-18-3 record and 49 points, just three points behind the first-place Golden Knights and two points behind second-place Edmonton.
The Sharks have won six of their last seven games, including back-to-back come-from-behind overtime victories at Los Angeles on Wednesday and over the Dallas Stars on Saturday. They appear to have a legitimate chance of making the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2019.
“We like playing good teams, and we like beating good teams, because we’re a good team,” forward Adam Gaudette said.
Now comes perhaps the biggest test of the season for San Jose.
The Golden Knights scored five first-period goals en route to a 7-2 victory over the Sharks in their last meeting on Dec. 23 in Las Vegas. They Knights’ point streak against the Sharks stands at 12 games.
Still, thanks to the play of Celebrini, who is third in the NHL in scoring behind only superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid with 70 points, and a three-game win streak, the Sharks are a confident group heading the Sunday contest.
“There’s a big belief in that dressing room right now that we can win hockey games, and we can play with the best of them,” San Jose coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “That’s the biggest thing we’re seeing now, is belief.”
The Sharks twice overcame two-goal deficits against Dallas, which is tied with the Minnesota Wild for the second-most points (61) in the league. Tyler Toffoli won it with a one-timer from the high slot 1:58 into overtime. Celebrini picked up his third assist on the play.
“Even going into the third period (trailing 3-2), you felt like we were going to win the hockey game,” Warsofsky said. “That was the expectation … and we went out and did that.”
Asked if the Sharks could carry the momentum into Vegas game, Warsofsky replied simply, “I hope so.”
The Golden Knights also bring in a three-game winning streak and come in off a 4-2 win over visiting St. Louis on Saturday night.
Mark Stone sealed the win for Vegas with a long empty-netter to tie the team record with a goal in his seventh straight game, Mitch Marner had a goal and an assist in his 700th career game, and Shea Theodore scored what proved to be the game-winner in his first game back since suffering an upper-body injury on Dec. 13.
“It’s always nice to score, and to get one your first game back is something that I’m going to try to build on,” Theodore said.
Theodore roofed a wrist shot from the middle of the right circle over the left shoulder of St. Louis goalie Jordan Binnington.
“Liked his game,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said of Theodore. “We’re a way better team when he’s in the lineup. He’s a world-class player. It’s good to have him back.”
-Field Level Media
