Following the Olympic break, the San Jose Sharks lost 4–1 to the Calgary Flames, a divisional opponent currently behind them in the standings. In a tight race to playoffs, these are the types of games San Jose needs to win, especially in regulation and within the division.
The Sharks outshot Calgary 35–29 and got a second-period goal from Tyler Toffoli, but they were unable to hold the tie heading into the third. Calgary scored three times in the final period to secure the win.
With the loss, San Jose has now dropped five straight games. Meanwhile, the teams they are chasing, including the Edmonton Oilers and the Anaheim Ducks, picked up wins coming out of the Olympic break, creating more separation in the standings.
The Sharks have also lost twice to Calgary and previously dropped a game to the Chicago Blackhawks, another team below them in the standings. To stay in the playoff race, San Jose needs points in these matchups and has not been able to secure them during this stretch so far.
Looking ahead, the focus internally is on reestablishing identity and tightening details over the remainder of the season. Head coach Ryan Warsofsky emphasized that this time of year, puck management, line changes, and defensive execution directly impact results. He says the group has to “regroup and move forward” during the homestand.
“We have to score, obviously, to win hockey games; we got to keep the puck out of our [net],” said Warsofsky.
The message centers on playing a complete 60 minutes, cleaning up breakouts, generating more inside offense and traffic at the net, and pairing improved scoring with stronger defensive play. Warsofsky also pointed to building around positives, including Michael Misa’s pace and detail, as the team works to translate process improvements into results down the stretch.
Macklin Celebrini returned to the Sharks this week after an impressive showing for Team Canada at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, where he led the tournament in goals and won a silver medal.
Celebrini described the result as “bitter” because of how close Canada came to gold, saying he and his teammates “can’t change it now” but took a lot from the experience.
During the Olympics, he also became the first NHL player to score on an Olympic penalty shot, highlighting his impact on the international stage. Back in San Jose, Celebrini continues to be a focal point of the Sharks’ offense and a key figure as the team pushes toward the playoffs this spring.
