In a season of disappointments for Vancouver Canucks fans, add last night’s game to the list. Things started out so promising, with the home team getting on the board 1:15 into the game. It looked like the team might give the home fans something to cheer about in a lost season. (Sorry Vancouver, Sharks fans can relate.) Instead, the San Jose Sharks, a few years ahead in the rebuild and fueled by those young draft picks acquired in said rebuild evened the score 36 seconds later. Macklin Celebrini one-timed a no-look pass from Will Smith to even things up.
The Sharks permanently took the lead in the game less than three minutes after that. With three goals in the first six minutes, the Sharks chased starting netminder Kevin Lankinen and the hung on for the next 54 minutes to cruise to a 5-2 victory to start the five game road trip before the Olympic break.
The change in net woke up the Canucks because as Sharks fans know, even the 32nd ranked team in the NHL has pride. Things seemed the level out with Nikita Tolopilo in the net and the Sharks scored, but at a slower pace. Plus the Canucks started to get chances as well.
As you can see from Natural Stat Trick’s GameFlow chart in all situations, the Sharks had control of the game, but never truly ran away with it.
For fans who look at this chart frequently, you know when the Sharks play some of the better teams, that line graph is a continuous slope in San Jose’s direction.
Dickinson growing; Misa taking strides
Sam Dickinson is growing his game and last night was a milestone for Dickinson. The young defenseman had his first multi-point game, finishing the night with two points.
Meantime, while Misa didn’t have any points in this game, he’s doing some things right. Of course, that didn’t show on the stat sheet, where Misa was the most ineffectual forward for the Sharks last night. That said, I’m not concerned. Misa is 14 games into his NHL career. He’s had a stilted season. But he’s making good decisions and he’s learning. We can see potential and positives on the ice which is all the optimistic Sharks fan can hope for.
Askarov getting a much needed win
Yaroslav Askarov has had a tough January, logging losses to Detroit, Vegas and Tampa Bay, so this win had to feel good. Askarov was excellent in the net for the Sharks last night, bailing the team out when the players started to lapse mentally. Askarov withstood the expected barrage from the Canucks at the start of the second period when the game was still within reach. He kept the puck out of the net, which allowed Smith to get the Sharks’ fourth goal of the game.
This was before the Sharks decided to put him into a full two-minute 5-on-3 situation. Askarov also withstood that one, making save after save and getting some help from his penalty killers Mario Ferraro, Vincent Desharnais and Alex Wennberg.
Askarov finished the night with 23 of 25 shots stopped and a 0.85 goals saved above expected.
Toffoli takes his revenge on Vancouver
It turns out Tyler Toffoli is really good against the Canucks. Like really good. Toffoli had a goal and five shots, making the most of his 13:55 of ice time last night.
According to Rob Williams, a Vancouver beat reporter, it’s a thing Toffoli has done against Vancouver since the team let him walk in free agency.
After slumping a few months into the season, Toffoli has started to heat up in January. He has 9 points in 11 games, 5 goals and 4 assists.
Highlight
Our highlight of the night is the Will Smith snipe
Scoring summary San Jose Sharks at Vancouver Canucks Jan. 27, 2026
First period
1:15 VAN Tom Willander from Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk
1:51 SJS Macklin Celebrini from Will Smith and Sam Dickinson
4:43 SJS Adam Gaudette from William Eklund and Macklin Celebrini
5:55 SJS Tyler Toffoli from Alex Wennberg and Sam Dickinson
Second period
9:07 SJS Will Smith from John Klingberg and Macklin Celebrini on the power play
Third period
0:28 SJS John Klingberg from Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini on the power play
9:15 VAN Filip Hronek from Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk on the power play
