UPDATE: The San Jose Sharks suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, despite significant milestones from rookie stars Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini. This defeat, which took place at T-Mobile Arena, marks a critical point as the Sharks aim for a playoff spot in the highly competitive Western Conference.
Just moments into the game, at 7:34 in the first period, Smith scored his first goal, celebrating his 100th NHL game. However, the Sharks fell into a deep hole as the Golden Knights responded with four consecutive goals, including two from center Tomas Hertl and one each from Colton Sissons and Mitch Marner, leaving San Jose trailing 4-1.
In a dramatic turn, Smith netted his second goal at 14:40 of the second period, assisted by Celebrini, narrowing the gap to 4-2. William Eklund added a late goal with just 25 seconds remaining in the second period, but the Sharks could not find the equalizer in the final stretch, marking their second loss to the Golden Knights this season.
Sharks’ goalie Alex Nedeljkovic struggled early, allowing four goals on 19 shots through two periods, though he improved as the game progressed. The Sharks ended a solid November with a 9-5-1 record, but this loss puts them in a precarious position in their playoff chase.
Celebrini also achieved a remarkable milestone, reaching 100 career points in just 96 games, becoming the first player in Sharks history to accomplish this feat in under 100 games. He now has 23 assists this season and 61 in his career, trailing only Smith in points among Sharks rookies.
The loss is particularly painful as the Sharks entered the game tied with the Utah Mammoth for the second and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, each with 27 points. A win would have propelled San Jose past the Golden Knights, into a tie for second place in the Pacific Division.
As the Sharks reflect on this tough defeat, it echoes their October 9 season opener against the Golden Knights, which also ended in a 4-3 overtime loss after a series of costly errors. Coach Graf had previously stated, “We haven’t forgotten the first game. So we’ll be ready to go,” emphasizing the team’s determination to bounce back.
Looking ahead, the Sharks must regroup quickly as they prepare for their next matchup. All eyes will be on the Sharks as they strive to turn the tide in their playoff hunt. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see if Smith and Celebrini can continue to shine as the season progresses.
