Tag: San Jose Sharks

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Sharks Embrace Full Rebuild With Veteran Signings and Youth Surge After Sixth Straight Playoff Miss

Dmitry Orlov
Dmitry Orlov (NHL)

The San Jose Sharks had another disappointing campaign in the 2024-25 NHL season, finishing with a 20-50-12 record. They ranked eighth in the Pacific Division and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the sixth straight year. Despite a strong rookie showing by Macklin Celebrini, team development and consistency remained elusive, leaving fans hoping that a revamped roster and emerging prospects can reverse the franchise’s fortunes.

Sharks Add Veterans on Defense and Offense to Support Emerging Young Core Players

San Jose was busy in free agency and the trade market, especially on defense. Dmitry Orlov was brought in on a two-year deal to be the top defenseman, and, coming off hip surgery, was signed for a year to provide a veteran right-shot presence. Goaltending saw a shake-up with the acquisition of Alex Nedeljkovic from Pittsburgh, expected to split duties with top prospect Yaroslav Askarov.

The Sharks also added several veteran forwards to support their young core. Jeff Skinner signed a one-year deal and could see top-six minutes, while Ryan Reaves, acquired in a trade, will add grit and toughness. Adam Gaudette and Philipp Kurashev were also signed, both capable of filling out the middle six. These additions aim to offer leadership and balance to a team loaded with youth.

John Klingberg
John Klingberg (NHL)

Youth Movement Begins as Sharks Transition to Future with Bold Roster and Prospect Shifts

San Jose parted ways with some familiar names and prospects. Most notably, veteran Marc-Edouard Vlasic was bought out after a 19-year career in teal. Henry Thrun was dealt to Toronto in exchange for Reaves, while Nikolai Kovalenko was not tendered a qualifying offer and signed in the KHL. These changes signify a full commitment to rebuilding and turning the roster over to younger talent.

Several young players are pushing for NHL roles. Defenseman Sam Dickinson, fresh off being named OHL defenseman of the year, could crack the opening night lineup. Goalie Yaroslav Askarov is poised to become a full-time NHL starter, while Michael Misa, the No. 2 overall pick in 2025, is projected to center the second line if signed. These prospects are expected to form the backbone of San Jose’s long-term rebuild.

Improving internal development is crucial. The team’s success hinges on the growth of Celebrini, Will Smith, and William Eklund. Celebrini, a Calder Trophy finalist, ranked highly in several EDGE metrics and is central to San Jose’s plans. In fantasy hockey, San Jose boasts six players under 23 in the top 100 keeper rankings, with Celebrini, Smith, and Misa all in the top 20. If Misa signs and debuts, he could be a Calder contender and top-100 fantasy option.

Key Arrivals Table

Player Position Age Transaction Type Previous Team 2023-24 Stats
Dmitry Orlov D 34 Signed (2-year contract) Carolina Hurricanes 28 pts in 76 games
John Klingberg D 32 Signed (1-year contract) Edmonton Oilers 4 pts in 11 games
Alex Nedeljkovic G 29 Traded from PIT (3rd-round pick) Pittsburgh Penguins 14-15-5, 3.12 GAA, .894 SV% in 38 games
Jeff Skinner F 33 Signed (1-year contract) Edmonton Oilers 29 pts in 72 games
Nick Leddy D 33 Claimed off waivers St. Louis Blues 5 pts in 31 games
Adam Gaudette F 28 Signed (2-year contract) Ottawa Senators 26 pts in 81 games
Philipp Kurashev F 25 Signed (1-year contract) Chicago Blackhawks 14 pts in 51 games
Ryan Reaves F 38 Traded from TOR Toronto Maple Leafs 2 assists, 28 PIM in 35 games
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NHL (National Hockey League)

Brandon Montour scores twice to lead Kraken over Sharks in Seattle

Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks

Brandon Montour scored twice and Chandler Stephenson had a goal and two assists as the Seattle Kraken beat the San Jose Sharks 6-2 on Thursday.

Oliver Bjorkstrand and Eeli Tolvanen each had a goal and an assist, and Jaden Schwartz added a goal. Goaltender Joey Daccord made 26 saves to help Seattle end a two-game losing streak.

Carl Grundstrom and Tyler Toffoli scored for the Sharks, who have now lost seven of their last eight games.

San Jose goalie Yaroslav Askarov was pulled after allowing four goals on 11 shots just under six minutes into the second period. Alexandar Georgiev came in and stopped 19 of 21 shots for the rest of the game, but the Sharks allowed six or more goals for the fifth time in their last six games.

After a 1-1 first period, the Kraken scored on their first three shots in the second period to chase Askarov.

Seattle Kraken (NHL)

Bjorkstrand gave Seattle the lead at 2:03, batting the puck out of midair after Vince Dunn’s shot deflected off Chandler Stephenson. Montour made it 3-1 with a wrist shot from the high slot at 2:54, and Schwartz scored a breakaway goal at 5:58, making it 4-1.

Montour then added another goal on a slap shot during a two-man advantage at 7:52 to increase the lead to 5-1.

Toffoli scored for the Sharks at 8:06 of the third period, lifting a wrist shot over Daccord. Tolvanen capped the scoring at 12:18 with a wrist shot from the high slot, extending his goal streak to four games.

Stephenson opened the scoring at 3:55 in the first period with a breakaway goal after a stretch pass from Bjorkstrand. Grundstrom accidentally tied the game at 17:55 with a deflected pass that went into the net off Shane Wright’s skate. Grundstrom joined the lineup due to an injury to Alexander Wennberg.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Penguins and Sharks Face Off in Crucial Matchup with Betting Odds Favoring Pittsburgh

Penguins and Sharks Face Off in Crucial Matchup with Betting Odds Favoring Pittsburgh
Penguins and Sharks Face Off in Crucial Matchup with Betting Odds Favoring Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Penguins will face the San Jose Sharks on Monday at 10:30 PM ET. The game takes place at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. Both teams are coming off losses, making this an important matchup. The Penguins are favored at -168, while the Sharks are underdogs at +140.

Game Details: Time, TV, Location

This game will be broadcast on ESPN+, with a live stream available on Fubo as well. The Penguins are expected to cover a spread of -1.5. The total for the game is set at 6.5 points, with both teams’ performances influencing the predictions.

Penguins and Sharks Face Off in Crucial Matchup with Betting Odds Favoring Pittsburgh
Penguins and Sharks Face Off in Crucial Matchup with Betting Odds Favoring Pittsburgh (NHL)

According to Data Skrive’s algorithm, the predicted score is a 4-3 victory for the Sharks. This prediction takes into account factors like strength of wins and scoring margins. San Jose, while underdogs, might pull off an upset in this contest.

Moneyline and Spread Betting Insights

The Penguins have a strong record as moneyline favorites this season. With odds of -168, they have won seven of 12 such games. On the other hand, the Sharks, underdogs with +140 odds, have managed 14 wins in similar situations, making them a solid pick against the spread.

With a total of 6.5 points, both teams have combined for over 6.5 goals in many of their games this season. San Jose has exceeded this total in 44.2% of their games, making the over a tempting choice for bettors. The odds suggest that both teams may score high, making for an exciting game.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Bruins Topple Sharks 6-3 in Boston

Charlie Coyle celebrates after scoring

The Boston Bruins secured an important 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Monday afternoon. With this win, the Bruins now have the same number of points as the Ottawa Senators and have moved ahead of the Montreal Canadiens in the standings.

Here are three key takeaways from the Bruins’ crucial win over the Sharks.

Charlie Coyle Shines for the Bruins

The Bruins were trailing 3-2 as the third period began. Despite the tough situation, Charlie Coyle stepped up and delivered an outstanding performance in the final frame. Coyle tied the game at 8:22 and then scored the go-ahead goal at 14:11. He also assisted on Elias Lindholm’s empty-net goal to seal the win.

Coyle’s strong play was a great sign for the Bruins, especially after some struggles earlier in the season. It will be interesting to see if this performance helps him build momentum for the rest of the season.

Joonas Korpisalo Bounces Back for the Bruins

Before this game, Joonas Korpisalo had allowed 11 goals over his previous two starts, facing some rough patches. However, the 30-year-old goaltender turned things around against the Sharks.

Joonas Korpisalo in the 2nd round

Korpisalo made 25 saves on 28 shots, including several crucial stops that helped his team secure the win. His strong performance was a welcome sign for the Bruins, who needed a bounce-back game from their goalie.

David Pastrnak Keeps Scoring for the Bruins

David Pastrnak continued his hot streak, scoring his second-period power-play goal to extend his goal streak to four games. In addition to his goal, Pastrnak also recorded an assist on Brad Marchand’s empty-netter, contributing to the team’s win.

With this performance, Pastrnak now has nine goals and 15 points in his last eight games, making him a key player for the Bruins as they push forward in the season.

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The Sharks broke their 8-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Lightning in San Jose

San Jose Sharks and Tampa Bay Lightning

Mario Ferraro scored the game-winning goal and had a fight, while Marc-Edouard Vlasic marked his return with a point as the San Jose Sharks ended an eight-game losing streak, beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on Thursday.

This victory ended the Sharks’ 0-7-1 stretch, and they managed to beat the Lightning for only the third time in the past 14 matchups (3-10-1).

Ferraro gave San Jose a 2-0 lead in the second period after a fight with Mitchell Chaffee earlier in the frame. Tyler Toffoli scored his team-leading 15th goal for the Sharks.

Vlasic made his season debut after recovering from an upper-back injury that kept him out of training camp and the first 40 games. In his 1,297th career game, the 19-year veteran assisted on Toffoli’s goal.

Collin Graf made his season debut, playing left wing with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith on the second line. Luke Kunin played in his 400th game.

Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)

In goal, San Jose’s Yaroslav Askarov made 24 saves, outplaying Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy, who had 23 saves. Anthony Cirelli scored the only goal for the Lightning, and Jake Guentzel returned from a one-game injury absence.

The Sharks’ young players brought a lot of energy in the first period, showing a better effort than their 8-1 loss in Tampa on Dec. 5, where the Lightning led 5-0 after the first period.

Askarov made seven early saves, including a crucial stop on Conor Geekie, before Toffoli scored at 13:52, dragging around defenseman Ryan McDonagh.

Both teams failed to capitalize on power plays in the second, but Ferraro extended the Sharks’ lead to 2-0 at 12:55 with a rush and a pass from Granlund. Cirelli scored for the Lightning in the second, tipping in a shot from Erik Cernak at 17:44.

In the third, Askarov made a crucial glove save on Nick Paul to keep the Sharks ahead by one goal. Tampa Bay’s captain, Victor Hedman, was cut by a puck near his ear and left the game with 10:57 remaining, not returning.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

The Lightning are hopeful Jake Guentzel will return for their game against the Sharks in Tampa

Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)

The Tampa Bay Lightning left on Wednesday for a three-game road trip in California, but it’s still unclear if they’ll have their top offseason acquisition available.

After a solid first half, the Lightning will face the San Jose Sharks on Thursday to complete their season series, with rookie star Macklin Celebrini also in the mix as part of the Western swing.

However, Jake Guentzel’s status remains uncertain.

In the offseason, the Lightning faced a tough choice: re-sign aging captain Steven Stamkos or find a new scoring option. They said goodbye to Stamkos, trading with the Carolina Hurricanes for the 30-year-old Guentzel before free agency began. Tampa Bay then signed him to a seven-year, $63 million contract to fill the void left by Stamkos.

After a slow start on a line with Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov, Guentzel has turned things around with 20 goals and 17 assists in 33 games. But, during a 6-2 win over the New York Rangers on Saturday, he took a hard hit into the boards and did not return. He was also scratched for the game against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.

“There’s been improvements since a couple games ago, so hopefully that continues and see what happens,” coach Jon Cooper said at practice on Tuesday.

Guentzel practiced in a non-contact jersey but skated with the top line. If he can’t play Thursday, Cam Atkinson would likely take his spot. Atkinson, a 13-year NHL veteran who played for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers, has three goals and two assists in 21 games for Tampa Bay.

San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings

On Dec. 5, the Lightning beat San Jose 8-1, with a five-goal first period. Point finished with four assists in that game.

The Sharks, on the other hand, have had a rough December. After a dreadful 0-7-2 start to the season, they showed some improvement but then went 2-10-1 in December. They are currently on an eight-game losing streak (0-7-1), with a 4-0 loss to the Flyers on New Year’s Eve.

Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky was frustrated after the loss, saying there was “no desperation” from his team. He noted that other teams are now figuring out their identity, and San Jose needs to match that intensity.

“It’s very disappointing. No desperation,” Warsofsky said. “And now you’re seeing teams find their identity in this league. Earlier on, I think we were probably catching teams by surprise. Now teams, this is full go.”

The Sharks are in last place with a .350 point percentage, ahead of only the struggling Blackhawks (.342). San Jose has played a league-high 40 games in the Western Conference but has earned fewer points than all but Chicago.

Despite playing fewer games, Celebrini leads all rookies with 12 goals, tied with Matvei Michkov of Philadelphia.

San Jose is missing forward William Eklund (seven goals, 20 assists), who was placed on injured reserve before the Philadelphia game. They called up 22-year-old Collin Graf from the AHL San Jose Barracuda, though he did not play against the Flyers.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Samuel Ersson and Aleksei Kolosov combine to shut out struggling Sharks in Flyers’ win

Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks

Samuel Ersson and Aleksei Kolosov teamed up to stop all 22 shots they faced, leading the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-0 win over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, handing the Sharks their eighth consecutive loss.

Ersson made 15 saves in two periods before leaving the game with an undisclosed injury. Kolosov finished the game, saving all seven shots he faced in the third period, helping the Flyers bounce back from a loss.

Nick Seeler, Ryan Poehling, Travis Konecny, and Egor Zamula each scored for the Flyers, while Jamie Drysdale and Bobby Brink both had two assists.

In the losing effort, Alexandar Georgiev stopped 30 of 34 shots.

Seeler put Philadelphia ahead less than six minutes into the game by banking a shot off the back of Georgiev and into the net from behind the goal line.

Tyler Toffoli nearly tied the game for San Jose with under two minutes remaining in the first period, but his shot off a faceoff in the offensive zone hit the post.

Philadelphia Flyers topped the visiting Detroit Red Wings

Poehling doubled the Flyers’ lead at 12:09 of the second period. He collected a rebound from Zamula, skated around Georgiev, and put the puck into the empty net.

Konecny added to the lead less than two minutes later with a one-timed shot on the power play, breaking Philadelphia’s 0-for-19 power-play drought and making it 3-0 with 6:16 left in the second.

Toffoli had a breakaway late in the second, but Ersson made a glove save to deny him.

Zamula extended the lead to 4-0 at 2:30 of the third when his shot from the corner deflected off a Sharks defenseman and into the net.

The Flyers outshot the Sharks 34-22 and blocked 20 shots compared to the Sharks’ 11. The Sharks, who haven’t won since December 12, remain in last place in the Pacific Division.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Golden Knights Overpower Sharks 6-3 with Strong Third Period, Extend Winning Streak to Five Games

Golden Knights Overpower Sharks 6-3 with Strong Third Period, Extend Winning Streak to Five Games
Golden Knights Overpower Sharks 6-3 with Strong Third Period, Extend Winning Streak to Five Games

The Vegas Golden Knights secured a commanding 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Friday night, bolstered by two pivotal short-handed goals from Brayden McNabb and Jack Eichel just 23 seconds apart in the third period. Alex Pietrangelo was a key playmaker with three assists, while Noah Hanifin, Mark Stone, Pavel Dorofeyev, and Brett Howden each contributed goals. The Golden Knights scored four unanswered goals in the third period to dominate the game, extending their winning streak to five games.

Rookie Will Smith stood out for the Sharks, recording a goal and an assist. San Jose also received contributions from Shakir Mukhamadullin, who notched his first NHL goal, and Tyler Toffoli, who scored his team-leading 14th goal with an unconventional bank shot late in the second period. Despite leading 3-2 early in the third and being on a power play, the Sharks were unable to sustain their momentum against the aggressive Knights.

Golden Knights Overpower Sharks 6-3 with Strong Third Period, Extend Winning Streak to Five Games
Golden Knights Overpower Sharks 6-3 with Strong Third Period, Extend Winning Streak to Five Games

The Golden Knights seized control in the third period, capitalizing on critical opportunities to overwhelm the Sharks. McNabb’s game-tying goal and Eichel’s subsequent go-ahead goal within seconds exemplified Vegas’s ability to turn the tide. Goaltender Adin Hill provided a solid presence with 22 saves for Vegas, while Alexandar Georgiev made 30 saves for San Jose. Despite the effort, the Sharks could not keep up with the relentless Golden Knights.

San Jose’s struggles highlight the challenges of their rebuilding phase. Having lost five consecutive games and 12 of their last 14, the Sharks faltered against one of the NHL’s top teams despite moments of competitiveness. A poignant moment of the night was a video tribute honoring Tomas Hertl’s return to San Jose, marking his first game back since being traded to Vegas. Hertl, who played 11 seasons with the Sharks, was a beloved figure in the franchise’s history.

Looking ahead, the Golden Knights will host the Calgary Flames on Sunday night as they aim to extend their winning streak. Meanwhile, the Sharks will seek to regroup when they host the Flames on Saturday night, hoping to end their skid and find success in their rebuilding journey.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Golden Knights Surge Past Sharks 6-3 with Two Short-Handed Goals in Dominant Third Period

Golden Knights Surge Past Sharks 6-3 with Two Short-Handed Goals in Dominant Third Period
Golden Knights Surge Past Sharks 6-3 with Two Short-Handed Goals in Dominant Third Period

The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the San Jose Sharks 6-3 on Friday night, thanks in part to key short-handed goals by Brayden McNabb and Jack Eichel early in the third period. The two goals came just seconds apart, shifting the momentum firmly in Vegas’s favor. Alex Pietrangelo played a pivotal role with three assists, while other Golden Knights contributors included Noah Hanifin, Mark Stone, Pavel Dorofeyev, and Brett Howden, all of whom scored goals. Vegas erupted for four unanswered goals in the final frame to secure their victory.

The Sharks, led by rookie Will Smith, had an initial 3-2 lead early in the third period. Smith scored a goal and added an assist, while Shakir Mukhamadullin and Tyler Toffoli also found the back of the net. Toffoli’s goal came late in the second period, when his shot off the back of a Vegas defenseman ricocheted past goalie Adin Hill, giving San Jose a brief lead. However, the Sharks’ momentum quickly vanished as Vegas capitalized on two short-handed goals in quick succession.

Golden Knights Surge Past Sharks 6-3 with Two Short-Handed Goals in Dominant Third Period
Golden Knights Surge Past Sharks 6-3 with Two Short-Handed Goals in Dominant Third Period

Vegas’s victory marked their fifth straight win and extended their dominance with nine victories in their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Sharks’ struggles continued, as they fell to their fifth consecutive loss and have now dropped eight of their last nine games and 12 of 14. Despite holding their own against one of the NHL’s top teams for much of the game, San Jose collapsed late in the third period, allowing the Golden Knights to take control.

Before the game, the Sharks held a video tribute to Tomas Hertl, marking his return to San Jose for the first time since being traded to Vegas earlier in the year. Hertl, who spent parts of 11 seasons with the Sharks and helped lead them to the 2019 Western Conference Finals, was celebrated for his contributions to the team. The tribute added emotional significance to the game, though the Sharks could not capitalize on the occasion.

In terms of individual achievements, Mukhamadullin scored his first NHL goal, adding to his growing profile. The 22-year-old defenseman, acquired from New Jersey in the Timo Meier trade, was playing in just his ninth game and earned his second career point. Looking ahead, the Golden Knights will host the Calgary Flames on Sunday, while the Sharks will face the same opponent at home on Saturday.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Sharks aim to snap losing streak against Flames

Alexandar Georgiev- San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks will have extra motivation when they face the Calgary Flames on Saturday night.

Trying to avoid finishing last in the league, the Sharks lost their sixth straight game with a 6-3 defeat to the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday, kicking off a six-game homestand.

San Jose led 3-2 through two periods but gave up two short-handed goals in the first 86 seconds of the third period.

“We stopped skating. We stopped hunting the puck, and it ended up in the back of our net,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “We’ve got to learn from this. It’s got to come from within the room. We have to understand and learn what it takes to win in this league, and we don’t know what it takes to win in this league.”

The Sharks have not finished higher than sixth in the Pacific Division over the past six seasons, and while the team knows it will take time to contend for a Stanley Cup, the immediate goal is to build winning habits.

“It needs to start now. It can’t start in two, three years,” Warsofsky said. “The winning foundational habits you need to win, it’s pretty simple and pretty direct. If we don’t do that, this is going to be a long process and we don’t want it to be a long process.”

Calgary Flames and Nashville Predators

The good news from Friday’s loss was that 2020 first-round draft pick Shakir Mukhamadullin scored his first NHL goal in just his ninth game.

“I’m trying to not think about the points, but sometimes it stays in your head,” said the big defenseman. “I feel I play with more confidence, but feel I have things to do to play better.”

The Flames are returning to action after a 6-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks last Saturday. Calgary, which has earned points in four straight games (2-0-2), is just two points outside a playoff spot as the season resumes after the holiday break.

Between now and the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February, the Flames will play 22 games in 43 days.

“It’s important for the players to recognize what they’re going to see here over the next little while,” coach Ryan Huska said. “We have 11 on the road, 11 at home, so it’s split pretty nicely for us. We have five back-to-back games.

So there’s a lot of hockey that’s going to be played by our team. It’s important to recognize that we’re going to need everybody to be at their best during this stretch.”

As the Flames prepare for back-to-back games against the Sharks and Golden Knights, they know they must improve their weak 4-7-4 road record.

“Always around that New Year’s time, teams are 35, 40 games into the season, playoff picture’s kind of starting to form,” forward Nazem Kadri said. “I think those points, obviously down the stretch, are huge, of course it intensifies, but that’s kind of as expected, nothing out of the norm.

We’ve really liked some of the things we were doing before the break, so it’s just a matter of continuing to do those.”

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Shorthanded goals power Knights past Sharks in victory

Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks

Brayden McNabb and Jack Eichel scored short-handed goals just 23 seconds apart to lead a four-goal third-period surge, helping the Vegas Golden Knights come from behind to beat the San Jose Sharks 6-3 on Friday night.

Vegas earned its league-leading 14th comeback win of the season and extended its winning streak to five games.

Eichel, McNabb, Mark Stone, and Brett Howden each had a goal and an assist, while Noah Hanifin and Pavel Dorofeyev also scored. Alex Pietrangelo recorded three assists, Victor Olofsson added two assists, and Adin Hill made 22 saves. The Golden Knights won their ninth game in the last 10 and improved to 13-0-3 all-time in the regular season at San Jose.

Will Smith had a goal and an assist, and Shakir Mukhamadullin and Tyler Toffoli also scored for the Sharks, who lost their sixth straight game. Fabian Zetterlund added two assists, and Alexandar Georgiev made 30 saves.

Vegas took a 1-0 lead at 6:58 of the first period when Hanifin scored a wrist shot from the slot. San Jose tied it at 14:40 on Mukhamadullin’s first career NHL goal, a slap shot from the left point.

Vegas Golden Knights (NHL)

The Golden Knights regained the lead at 3:27 of the second period when Stone scored a backhand rebound. However, San Jose answered with two goals, including Smith’s goal at 5:53 and Toffoli’s at 15:57, to take a 3-2 lead.

In the third period, Vegas scored three goals in the first 5:46. McNabb tied the game at 3-3 with a wrist shot from the left circle, and Eichel gave the Knights the lead with another short-handed goal just 23 seconds later. Dorofeyev extended the lead to 5-3 with a backhand shot.

The Sharks pulled Georgiev for an extra attacker with 2:45 left, but Howden sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 31.5 seconds remaining.

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Tomas Hertl makes his return to San Jose, now playing for the Golden Knights

San Jose Sharks players celebrates after a goal

Center Tomas Hertl will make his first visit to the SAP Center since being traded last season when the Vegas Golden Knights, who are leading the Pacific Division, face the San Jose Sharks on Friday.

Hertl was selected by San Jose as the 17th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft. Over 11 seasons, he scored 218 goals and 484 points, making him the sixth-highest scorer in the team’s history. San Jose traded him to the Golden Knights just before the trade deadline in March. The Sharks will play a video tribute to honor his return.

“I’m excited for it,” said Hertl, 31. “I can’t really tell how the feeling (will be) right now. We are going to be on the other side in the visiting team (locker room).”

“We had some great runs. I played there a long time, but I still want to take the two points from there and have a good game. … I really don’t know what to expect because I haven’t been in this situation before in my life.”

Hertl has scored 10 goals, including a team-high seven on the power play, and has 24 points for Vegas. In the Golden Knights’ last game before the holiday break, he scored the team’s go-ahead goal and added an assist in a 3-1 home win over the Anaheim Ducks on Monday.

With an 8-1-0 record in December, the Golden Knights entered the break with the NHL’s best points percentage at .721. They carry a four-game winning streak into San Jose and have a 25-2-5 record all-time against the Sharks, including a 12-0-3 record in San Jose.

Vegas is 19-3-2 against teams in the Western Conference and 11-2-1 against Pacific Division rivals.

Vegas Golden Knights (NHL)

“Right now in the (Western Conference) I certainly feel we’re going as well as anybody, and that’s a credit to the guys,” said Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy.

The Sharks are in last place in the Pacific Division with 28 points, 21 fewer than the Golden Knights. They’ve lost five straight games since a 4-3 win at St. Louis on Dec. 12, with four of those losses being by one goal. This includes a 3-2 overtime loss to defending Western Conference champions Edmonton last Saturday.

The Sharks are coming off a 4-3 loss to Vancouver on Monday, when they allowed three goals in a 70-second span late in the second period, falling behind 4-1.

“Today was four or five minutes, and we lose a hockey game because of it,” said San Jose coach Ryan Warsofsky on Monday. “So, it’s frustrating. I feel for the guys because I thought we had a good effort tonight.

We competed, we pushed back, but we have to learn from it and move on. … We got to find some mental toughness to push through and stick together and do things and clamp it down and keep it simple.”

San Jose begins a six-game homestand with a back-to-back series against the Golden Knights and Calgary Flames. The Sharks have a 6-9-1 home record this season but will face a Vegas team that is 9-5-3 on the road.

This is the second of three matchups between the two teams. Vegas won the first game 7-3 on Oct. 26 in Las Vegas, with Mark Stone and Pavel Dorofeyev each contributing one goal and two assists.