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 towards 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 authentic probability of constructing the Stanley Cup playoffs for the primary time since 2019.
“We like enjoying good groups, and we like beating good groups, as a result of we’re a very good group,” 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 objectives en path to a 7-2 victory over the Sharks of their final assembly on Dec. 23 in Las Vegas. They Knights’ level streak towards 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 huge perception in that dressing room proper now that we will win hockey video games, and we will play with the most effective 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 towards 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 had been going to win the hockey sport,” Warsofsky mentioned. “That was the expectation … and we went out and did that.”
Requested if the Sharks may carry the momentum into Vegas sport, Warsofsky replied merely, “I hope so.”
The Golden Knights additionally usher in a three-game successful streak and are available in 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 group document with a objective in his seventh straight sport, Mitch Marner had a objective 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 harm on Dec. 13.
“It is at all times good to attain, and to get one your first sport again is one thing that I’ll attempt to construct on,” Theodore mentioned.
Theodore roofed a wrist shot from the center of the suitable 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 group when he is within the lineup. He is a world-class participant. It is good to have him again.”
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