San Jose Sharks
Sharks Win! Toffoli Powers 5-4 OT Comeback
The San Jose Sharks welcome the Dallas Stars into SAP Center.
Alex Wennberg and Jeff Skinner and Adam Gaudette and Tyler Toffoli (twice) scored, and the Sharks won 5-4 in OT.
Period 1
3 in: Stars control the start, but San Jose Sharks respond with back-to-back Grade-A chances, Chernyshov to Celebrini, then vice versa. Big DeSmith saves.
6 in: Veteran patience by Wennberg, under duress in DZ, don’t force play forward into likely turnover, turn back and calm it down. Small play that I feel takes youngsters some time to learn.
Hryckowian goal: That hurts. Iorio fumbles at blueline, not a ton of pressure on him, and at his level, that mistake gets pounced on in a hurry for a breakaway. That’s an NHL-AHL difference there. But the important thing, as always, for a young defenseman, how does Iorio respond? Flush it.
8 left: Ostapchuk line seems a little more on time on the forecheck today. And I like how Ostapchuk played that developing 2-on-1, stayed back to prevent the lead pass, which also bought time for his teammate to catch up to equal up the counterattack. Offsides anyway.
That’s a breakdown: Leddy up on play, maybe he shouldn’t be? Have to re-watch. Blackwell beats Graf down the ice (Dickinson had the passer). Blackwell says Nedeljkovic tripped him, but no call. Sharks escaped a bad one there.
6 left: Celebrini enters the zone with possession slow, a good time to time change-up for him.
4 left: Good work up high by Skinner and I think Gaudette to prevent Stars exit. Save for the goal allowed, Sharks have been solid since early part of period.
Brilliant back-handed Celebrini set-up of Chernyshov, another DeSmith stop. Then Celebrini skates it up from NZ, shakes Duchene, then splits a layer of the Stars’ defense for a clean entry pass to Chernyshov. A jaw-dropping sequence.
Rantanen goal: Not a shift to remember for Leddy. Hurts too, because Sharks have actually played a solid period except for blueliner mishaps. Leddy was about to be called for the penalty, Stars cycle keeps going, and Leddy can’t untangle himself from Nedeljkovic in front, he actually prevents his own goalie from having a fair chance for the save. Tough pill to swallow with 56 seconds left too. This is one of the periods that does, honestly, highlight what’s holding Sharks’ back from being a sure-fire playoff team. Defense is not to be trusted, yet.
Period 2
3 in: Good, assertive kill by the San Jose Sharks against a top PP. Hopefully, this gives them so “Mo.”
Wennberg goal: Sweet pass by the Mack. Give-and-go with Wennberg, Celebrini finds the soft spot for Wennberg one-timer. Orlov does a nice job of keeping it in, to start.
7 in: Huge chance, off Sharks’ PP, DeSmith gives up a soft rebound on a long shot and Gaudette right there. Soft rebound but DeSmith makes the 10-bell save.
9 in: Good extra effort defensive recovery by Toffoli on Bourque. Those are little winning things that you don’t always see from a team. Like when a team is playing hard but not balls-out hard.
Skinner goal: Great pass by Gaudette on entry, he absorbs pressure high which opens up the wing entry. Then Chernyshov with a deceptive pass to Skinner in the slot, right under Lyubushkin. High-end pass from Chernyshov. Chernyshov has been a little quiet recently, so love to see a rookie bounce back from a lull, which will happen in a rookie season. He’s been excellent tonight.
Capobianco goal: Clear-cut 2-on-1, Ferraro pinched and didn’t have the support behind him. But Leddy got in the way of the pass, Nedeljkovic wants that back, I think. Tough one to give up, under a minute left, period you’ve been dominating. Two goals against tonight, under a minute left in the period.
Period 3
2 in: Big kill again by the Sharks, banner effort so far against a top PP.
Rantanen goal: Dominating game by the big winger. He basically wins the puck in a one-on-one with the pretty big himself Ostapchuk. From that point on, it’s pinball. Initial shot hits Goodrow, caroms off a couple other things, and Rantanen finds it in the air. Starts with, Remenda calls this put, but Leddy isn’t decisive on Capobianco entry. Lets him in and Stars able to wheel around zone. Fourth line actually a much better game than last.
Toffoli goal: Celebrini just commands so much attention. Up high, Back can’t keep up, opening a pass-shot lane for Macklin. Heiskanen steps up, Celebrini passes it through him, Lindell just a second behind Toffoli, goal. Don’t cheer for the tacos, cheer for the MVP.
Don't cheer for the tacos, cheer for the MVP.
What a pass by Celebrini! https://t.co/U9HwiiTXe9
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 10, 2026
Gaudette goal: Great play by Dickinson! Solid all-around effort from him tonight. Credit to Leddy too, tough game tonight for him, but he made a move in the NZ that helped the Sharks gain entry with possession.
Dueling breakaway saves there, Regenda then Johnston.
Really impressed by the Sharks tonight. Dug in there, some bounces go against them, just kept going to get a point against a rested Dallas. I might be crossing the Randy Hahn Rubicon lol.
OT
Wennberg-Celebrini-Orlov to start.
Orlov impressive takedown of Rantanen.
I think it’s fair to say this team is legit if we can pull of these victories with injuries like we have. I’m not buying this crap that we would be rolled in the playoffs if we can get healthy and Grier holds on to some UFAs
I think it’s fair to say that even using the word “playoffs” around here is pretty unbelievable.
Still a ton of hockey left in the season.
Game of the year so far, and the team was amped on the ice after. All the Toffoli haters can give it a rest for a night too
It’s in the top three or four for sure but the Penguins comeback is still #1.
Yeah that’s an all timer. Up there with the Vegas Game 7 as one of the best games
Agreed. The Pens game was unreal.
Who is a Toff hater?
I forgot who, (I think Joseph?) has said a few times Toffoli shouldn’t be on the PP. Others have commented how Toffoli has lost a step and should be demoted to the third line
He was playing like shit and couldn’t move up and down the ice. At that time, yeah he maybe should have been moved off the top PP. I think he was for a little bit. Not sure that’s being a Toff hater. Hate is how people talked about Klinger during his struggles.
Yeah that makes sense. I shouldn’t imply anyone’s truly being a hater. It’s been awhile since Toffoli got any criticism here, so I was just recalling what that criticism was.
It’s subjective, but I think of being a “hater” as when I’ve allowed myself to have an irrational and/or unshakable dislike of someone or something. Like I’m a Vegas HATER!!! Fuck em!! And Tesla trucks. Those are trash!
Would it be accurate to say you’re a Ferraro hater?
i LOVE Ferraro the human being. I HATE the way he plays hockey. I don’t think it’s his fault. I just think he’s over his head and can’t calm himself to play good hockey. Now someone like Hoffman? Hate everything about him. Him and his insane wife.
Fair enough!
Tell more about Hoffman’s wife; I wasn’t aware of her shenanigans.
Google what went down between the the Hoffmans and the Karlssons.
I thought Dickinson had a really, really good game. Thought defensively he was really good. Held up really well in the board battles against a big, physical team.
I got one word……WOW!
Sharkkssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss! I’m in hysterics w/ how they are winning these games, the drama, the Mack effect, just stunning entertainment and to get the Stars
monkey off their back is a big deal.
If only they could get another shot at Vegas, too! They will be on 6 hours shorter rest playing the 3rd game in 4 nights tomorrow
They had an extra day off before today’s game, and have more than 24 hours before Vegas with no travel. As far as back to backs go, that’s not bad. Especially carrying momentum from today’s result.
That’s Three!!!!! Another incredible Win! Sharks are killers in OT! 71>72>73=GWG
3-0 to start the Olympic stretch run, inconceivable? Not to Mack & Co.
Just stunning… Again!
It was 2-0 Dallas and I needed to go handle some errands and watch my 17 month old concurrently. We took the little stuffed Sharkie toy I have had since before she was born and gave it to her over a year ago.
She was squeezing her little stuffed Sharkie in the car and I had no idea what the score was but then saw yet another OT comeback when we finished up and headed home!
Similar thing happened during the PIT comeback 🤷🏻♂️
Yeaahhh!! Love that story
Thanks Man!
We do try to keep screen time to a minimum but I have seen my daughter fixated on SJS games this year!?
Maybe all kids do that!?
At least she isn’t a VGK fan
We won’t have that in this household lol
Please make sure that she has that stuffed Sharkie tomorrow from 5pm until around 8:30pm
And during every game for the rest of the year.
Done!
Rest assured this is a game day ritual albeit usually in the crib for night games!
If the regular season ended today would Warso earn the Jack Adams!?
Well, maybe, but I think Warso isn’t responsible for Macklin Celebrini’s greatness, and if that was missing, the team probably wouldn’t be exceeding expectations. Unless Warso is the one that tells Mac “It’s ok, go ahead and use your super powers, we need you”. The kid’s a freaking mutant!
No doubt we are all riding the Celebrini express but do you think his work fitting the pieces around him is a factor!?
People wanted him ousted 6 games in this year. Just hope their belief has increased since as I think right now there is a fair amount of “belief” in that locker room and would like to think Warso has hand in the culture!?
I was one of the people defending him back then, but I would say there is not enough evidence for a Jack Adams trophy yet. A lot of this year’s success is simply Celebrini playing like a generational talent.
It’s when this team has to go 10 games without Celebrini that Warsofsky’s impact will be judged.
Yup, you and I were 2 of the main people trying to explain it to all the chicken littles.
Let’s hope we never experience that but perhaps farther down the road
we may have a team capable of surviving that kind of short term loss!?
Definitely! It’s probably a lot of people behind the scenes all helping to build this thing. Grier adding Reaves was a great team building move, Warso using Wennberg to start OT earlier in the season was brilliant, Orlov mentoring the Russians is great, Boyle joining the SJHN podcast, everyone’s chipping in!
It’s a huge factor. The people who wanted him ousted at 6 games were morons who couldn’t see the whole picture at the beginning of the season.
I was impressed with him surviving last year and then the success at World’s and was prepared to give him a helluva lot longer leash than 6 games. I go in 20 game increments for most player and coach assessments.
Warios coaching and development are why the games are close enough for Celly to work his magic. He’s a big part of why nearly every prospect seems to do well at the NHL level. And yes he has a hand in coaching Celly to be the beast he is. Plenty of great players have struggled under awful coaches. Clearly he’s giving the support to Celly he needs to be the super hero.
At the same time, doesn’t it take “the right kind of coach” to mesh and support and utilize the uber star greatness!?
Seems like if this team
keeps progressing as they have Warso has a legit crack at The Adams!?
I think we’ll see some big decisions by Warso when some of our injured guys come back. Our top 6 is gonna get Kurashev and Smith back, the D is gonna get Desharnais back, and trades will throw another wrench in it all. It’s a results oriented business, and results have been unbelievable so far!
I’ve said repeatedly that if the Sharks make the playoffs he wins the Jack Adams.
That’s a good point. I always believed that Grier valued Warso being relatively young, and thus his ability to relate to and develop our young prospects. I’m not against him winning the Adams, that would be so cool!
I just think the majority of the hockey world will see the heroics of Celebrini and it’ll overshadow the coach.
Making the playoffs won’t be just because of Celly.
Yeah, I mean that’s pretty obvious to us. I don’t have the same belief in the hockey media to draw that same conclusion
Probably not but if they make the playoffs he has to be a finalist at minimum.
Man I really want Leddy to be a serviceable 7th guy, and I think he went from unplayable to solid veteran in those 60 minutes. If he keeps getting minutes I hope he really finds a consistent game.
if they have to keep him it would definitely be great if they can actually play him if they make the playoffs. Injuries happen a lot so you need your whole roster.