The passes didn’t always connect. The shots weren’t always on target. But despite it all, the San Jose Sharks pressed on and willed the team to a 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Macklin Celebrini earned the team’s first star of the game. He scored two goals and assisted on one other. In net, Yaroslav Askarov stopped 22 pucks to earn his first win in a teal uniform.
One of the more interesting things about the game is that despite the lopsided score, the puck possession was equally as lopsided in the other direction. Looking at Natural Stat Trick’s Corsi at 5v5, you can see that the possession was much more in favor of the Kings, especially in the second period.
The Corsi was slightly in favor of the Sharks in the third period and the Sharks capitalized with five unanswered goals. However, a lot of that scoring success was because of the power plays the Sharks earned.
Plenty of power play time
While the Sharks didn’t dominate the game, the team played with speed and ended up drawing several power plays. San Jose had seven man advantages last night, including a 5-on-3 that lasted more than 90 seconds and a four-minute double minor.
The Sharks scored twice on the power play, getting goals from Macklin Celebrini and Alex Wennberg.
After the game, Mario Ferraro said it spoke to the way the team “competed.” He said it highlighted how they were “checking with their legs” rather than with their “sticks.”
A game of bounces
Not only did the Kings score two goals in the second period, but there were more than a handful of other chances that looked like sure goals. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Kings had 17 scoring chances to the Sharks’ 5. LA outshot San Jose 13 to 5 in that second frame.
A little bounce here or there, and we could be telling a much different story.
But the bounce that did make a difference was the one that helped San Jose tie the game in the second half of the second period. Fabian Zetterlund had the foresight to simply toss the puck on net. It bounced around and found its way behind David Rittich to tie the game.
Fabian Zetterlund’s wraparound goal ties it up 😤
— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) November 26, 2024
pic.twitter.com/K4k575QGQK
The goal seemed to change the luck for the Sharks.
Highlight
There’s not always a single highlight in a seven goal game, but I would be remiss if I did not give Luke Kunin credit where credit is due.
LUKE KUNIN! 😮💨
— NHL (@NHL) November 26, 2024
Now, that is a NICE goal. pic.twitter.com/qz7FOHaMXb
It was a remarkable individual effort through a lot of sticks and a lot of legs.
Scoring summary Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks Nov. 25, 2024
First Period
1:47 SJS Nico Sturm from Mario Ferraro and Yaroslav Askarov
Second Period
2:32 LAK Brandt Clarke from Adrian Kempe and Anze Kopitar
8:58 LAK Anze Kopitar from Adrian Kempe and Warren Foegele
13:59 SJS Fabian Zetterlund from William Eklund and Macklin Celebrini
Third Period
1:03 SJS Macklin Celebrini from Henry Thrun and Jan Rutta
2:14 SJS Timothy Liljegren from Will Smith
3:43 SJS Macklin Celebrini from William Eklund and Will Smith on the power play
10:46 SJS Alex Wennberg from Jake Walman on the power play
18:39 SJS Luke Kunin unassisted
