Graf Nets Pair of Goals, Sharks Win 1st Celebrini-Bedard Match-Up

The San Jose Sharks take on the Chicago Blackhawks at SAP Center.

Will Smith and Collin Graf (twice) and Tyler Toffoli scored, and the Sharks pulled out a 4-2 win (or loss) in the race for Schaef.

Period 1

Ferraro closes, Mukhamadullin gets the puck and advances it, offense. That’s a formula that the Sharks hope to see more of next year.

Smith goal: Eklund took a hit to make a play, get it to the center lane. Celebrini just tees up Smith, who lights up a one-timer past Knight. Except for Toffoli, Smith might have the best goal-scoring shot on the team.

7 in: Graf backcheck on Bedard, steal. Wasn’t Graf’s best offensive shift, but there’s an example of why he’s gained esteem in the franchise’s eyes. Then Smith holds off Kaiser down low, that’s nice work, seems to me Smith is stronger.

9 in: Huge Georgiev save on Donato, Eklund low to high pass to encroaching Liljegren hops over the stick, creating 2-on-1. Eklund tracks back hard to force Donato to his backhand, but still a great chance.

Graf goal: Think it was Ferraro who kept the puck in. Beaut work, Graf backs up in slot to get open after crashing net, Wennberg pretty feed.

8 left: San Jose Sharks all over Hawks, love Mukhamadullin being in the middle of all of it. Great shift from 70’s Line.

7 left: There’s a frustrating Kostin play. Set up in the slot, make a play there, he holds, looking for the perfect play, and is cut off. Nobody is expecting him to commandeer the slot like a Keith Tkachuk, maybe only himself. But don’t get cut off and lose all steam there. “Forget the perfect play, just make a play” sounds like a solid coaching slogan.

Gregor penalty: Big spot for a struggling Sharks PK, can they keep a 2-0 lead going into second? Didn’t look like much of a hold to me. Giles getting some PK shifts for the first time, as promised.

Period 2

Nazar goal: Well, not on the PK at least. Nazar uses Ferraro as a screen, but I think you’d like Georgiev to pick it up, it wasn’t a rifle shot. Remenda just credits Nazar FWIW, so maybe I’m wrong. Was off the post and in.

Dickinson penalty: Celebrini hit high in the back by Dickinson, goes hard into the boards. Cheap-looking hit, there was a call, Celebrini comes up in some discomfort, but he looks OK, he’s on the power play. Vlasic goes up to Dickinson afterwards, and it looks like Blackhawks captain Foligno passes by Celebrini and asks if he’s OK.

Graf goal: I liked Celebrini’s entry, changing pace on speed to gain zone, not all-out as we’re accustomed to. That’s what the coaches want from him to. Looks like Smith shanked a shot, goes right to Graf, right place, right time.

9 left: Really liked that Kostin shift. Runs legal pick in OZ corner so Kovalenko could grab puck, almost shovels cross-slot pass to Kovalenko for put-in, just basic big boy hockey.

Goodrow doesn't get enough credit for how he's stood up for his guys this year, he's been the go-to guy.

He's said it's been an all-year commitment, I've personally noticed it especially since the Stenlund board, Goodrow first to step up to the plate

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 14, 2025

Mikheyev goal: San Jose Sharks lose net front guy, maybe thinking ahead of offense, leaving the zone a little early.

1 left: That’s not a good drop pass by Smith, if that’s what he was trying. Puck might have slipped too. But he was the only Shark on entry, close game, he had puck but no help, no one close. Eat the puck along the wall or get it in deep, don’t feed the counterattack in a one-goal game with less than a minute left.

Let’s see if the Sharks can close this lead!

Period 3

Celebrini was wide-open for just a sec in front of Knight, but Eklund couldn’t get it over.

2 in: Back-to-back big Georgiev saves, after Smith couldn’t settle down a puck along the wall for exit. Smith does get it in deep, as he should, when he has a lone foray into zone later. Sharks were changing.

4 in: Beaut Ferraro stretch to Smith for 2-on-1 with Graf, big Knight save.

7 in: Long bomb Smith stretch pass to Graf, love it if it works, but it doesn’t, so you got a tired bunch out there after an icing. After a minute-long shift. Sharks survive.

5 left: Kaiser catches Graf from behind on his hat trick breakaway bid. Just a little more speed and strength, hopefully next year…but his leap has been very impressive and surprising this season.

4 left: Mukhamadullin gets the puck, skates up, gets it deep, small play, but feels like he’s just reacting now. No hesitation in his game, he’s become, granted after roster depletion at Deadline, genuinely the Sharks’ No. 2 defenseman.