The Sharks did not ease into the game, did not feel their way through the opening shifts, and did not wait to see what Calgary brought with it. From the opening faceoff, the ice belonged to speed, pressure, and a team willing to play on instinct.
First period
The puck hit the ice right at 7:09 pm at the SAP Center. Not even two minutes had gone by, and John Klibngberg had a mission. With the help of Macklin Celebrini, the Sharks were on the board right away.
That was the Sharks’ first shot on goal. The energy did not die down. Collin Graf got a nice clean breakaway, but missed the goal. The Sharks were playing smart and fast.
Speaking of fast, six minutes in, with a speedy play by Zack Ostapchuck, Vincent Iorio, and Barclay Goodrow, San Jose increased their lead to two. Ostapchuk’s first point as a Shark.
The version of the Sharks that was on the ice had the identity of a team that can fight to win.
Celebrini was on another level. His pacing and skills were sticking out more than ever, with countless possessions, a few good looks, which were key moments keeping the team sturdy.
But the momentum slipped with 8 minutes left. Blake Coleman was able to get the puck past Yaroslav Askarov, and the rest was history.
The Sharks continued to fight hard. A very promising play from Mario Ferraro and Celebini, great defense, and that same fast pace. But it was interrupted by Ryan Lomberg’s first of the year.
It was now a whole new game. The Flames flipped the script, and it was tied 2-2. The Sharks were giving up too much space for entries and were looking a bit rattled. After a minute, they got back on their feet with a noticeable amount of dangling.
A team that has come so far. They regroup. They recover. And they score. Barclay Goodrow was on hat-trick watch, and the Sharks led the game 3-2 with less than a minute left in the first period. And another point for Celebrini.
The first frame was that good kind of chaos.
Second period
Thirty-two seconds in, San Jose put Calgary on their first power play with a cross-checking penalty against Timothy Liljegren. It was also the first power play of the game, but the Flames werent able to produce.
Askarov was being tested quite a bit early into the period, the Flames adding 2 shots in 2 minutes.
The confidence was seen for the next few minutes in the Sharks’ playing style. They were calm. The kind of game Calgary brought was physical. Ryan Reaves took a huge hit, followed by a breakaway from Adam Klpaka, but Askarov handled it.
Tension was building. Ferraro got into it with MacKenzie Weegar, and now the tension was more than just physical. At one point, Reaves was gripping onto two Flames on each side of him.
17 minutes in Calgary was on their second power play, with a trip by William Eklund. The Sharks’ penalty kill was tight, and yet again the Flames weren’t able to get one in.
The remainder of the period was more calm. It ended the same, 3-2 in favor of San Jose.
Third period
It took three minutesâhis 17th of the season. With a very nasty spin move, Celebrini shot the puck at Dustin Wolf’s leg, and it bounced right over the goalkeeper and into the goal. 4-2 Sharks.
The Sharks were finally on their first power play, courtesy of a trip by Rasmus Andersson.
Celebrini was just playing a different kind of game. He was moving quickly and never missed a beat when the puck came his way. He created more than enough pressure. Sadly, the stars didn’t align, but hey, the Sharks were still winning by a lot, not just by the score.
But that soon changed. With a chaotic break in by Eklund passed to Toffoli, it went right in. Toffoli’s 300th career goal.
In 37 seconds, Calgary answered back with a goal by Nazem Kadri.
The game was a race.
Postgame
For head coach Ryan Warsofsky, the result reflected contributions throughout the lineup rather than a single moment. With injuries and lineup changes forcing adjustments, Warsofsky pointed to the energy.
âGuys stepped up,â he said. âObviously, Turner comes in, gives us some legs, and those guys did a really good job.â
That energy showed in San Joseâs forecheck and ability to recover after momentum swings, particularly during Calgaryâs push late in the game.
Macklin Celebriniâs performance again stood out, not just on the scoresheet but in how consistently he drove play.
âEvery time you think heâs gonna maybe slow down or hit a speed bump, he doesnât,â Warsofsky said. âHe just keeps going. You could see he had legs early tonight.â Celebriniâs pace helped stabilize the Sharks during stretches when the game opened up and Calgary began trading chances.
The Sharksâ ability to respond after conceding goals was another point of emphasis.
âThatâs their identity,â he said. âTheyâve done it pretty consistently all year. When we need a shift in the forecheck, they bring it.â That response was evident.
In net, Yaroslav Askarov settled in after a busy opening, making key stops as the Flames pressed. âSometimes youâre not gonna feel your best,â Warsofsky said. âHe made some big saves. I thought he got better as the game went on.â Those saves helped keep the Sharks in control.
Despite the win, Warsofsky emphasized the importance of moving forward without lingering on the result. âEnjoy this win,â he said. âAnd then at 12:01, we turn the page.â With the Olympic break still ahead, he stressed maintaining consistency.
âA lot of things are contagious,â Warsofsky said. âWhen you get some success, that feeling of joy is very contagious.â
Scoring summary Calgary Flames at San Jose Sharks Dec. 16, 2025
First period
1:02 SJS John Klingberg from Macklin Celebrini
6:00 SJS Barclay Goodrow from Zack Ostapchuk and Vincent Iorio
11:01 CGY Blake Coleman from MacKenzie Weegar and Connor Zary
14:23 CGY Ryan Lomberg from Adam Klapka
19:41 SJS Barclay Goodrow from Macklin Celebrini and Ty Dellandrea
Second period
No scoring
Third period
2:46 SJS Macklin Celebrini from Collin Graf and Igor Chernyshov
12:53 SJS Tyler Toffoli from William Eklund and Alexander Wennberg
13:31 CGY Nazem Kadri from Jonathan Huberdeau
18:50 SJS Macklin Celebrini from Dmitry Orlov and Barclay Goodrow into the empty net
