San Jose Sharks
Toffoli Breaks Slump, Smith Dazzles, Sharks Win 6-3
The San Jose Sharks welcome the Utah Mammoth to SAP Center.
Tyler Toffoli (twice) and Pavol Regenda and Will Smith (twice) and Adam Gaudette scored, and the Sharks won 6-3.
Period 1
Crowd booing Sergachev like he's Evander Kane 😆 Sergachev didn't shake SJ Sharkies's hand after the ceremonial faceoff honoring the Mascot Hall of Famer
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 2, 2025
Toffoli goal: Toffoli needed that. Snaps a 12-game goalless streak. Nice pass from Smith behind the net. Not sure how Celebrini got the primary assist, did he touch Smith pass?
Sergachev penalty: Gorgeous Celebrini pass to Liljegren, Public Enemy No. 1 takes a penalty. Klingberg-Smith-Eklund-Celebrini-Wennberg on PP2, Orlov-Toffoli-Kurashev-Graf-Regenda on PP2.
Regenda goal: Just like the Sharks drew it up when they recalled him! They put Pavol in front of the net on the PP2, Kurashev shot-pass? It glances off Regenda, past Vejmelka.
8 in: Eklund knocks Peterka down.
Crouse goal: That’s unacceptable from Mukhamadullin, letting 5-foot-9 Carcone get a pass around him to Crouse. Dickinson must tie up Crouse too. Sure, Mukhamadullin turnover at blueline, but that’s easy to recover from. But then, Mukhamadullin and Dickinson with really young mistakes.
8 left: Chants of “Asky! Asky!!” after that Askarov save in-tight. Sharks slipping after that Crouse goal, overreacting to passes, not taking their man.
Toffoli goal: But this will restore order. Off draw, Toffoli fires it past Vejmelka. Vejmelka pulled, Vanecek in. Warsofsky thought floodgates would open for Toffoli, there it is.
5 left: Kind of a bogus icing. Dellandrea got held up trying to catch up Toffoli bounce pass, then he was about to beat Sergachev to puck.
Peterka goal: And of course, Askarov can’t give up that goal, but that was off a dubious icing. Not complaining though, that’s how you work the rules in your favor, get an advantageous faceoff. It really should be 3-0 San Jose Sharks, but they’re giving up stuff that they shouldn’t.
1 left: Calm Gaudette pass, under duress, to Eklund breaking out.
Period 2
Goodrow penalty: Have generally liked the fourth line this year, but not their game so far. Haven’t seen Goodrow at center in a while.
They got their tacos, now they’re out for Sergachev’s blood: Fans committed to the bit, still booing Sergachev at every puck touch.
3 in: Think Eklund can battle Durzi more in front there. Durzi establishes position, gets a point-blank chance on Askarov. Since Crouse goal, Sharks haven’t been as defensively disciplined as you like, I think.
5 in: That’s a hope pass that you want out of a youngster’s game, on entry, Eklund doesn’t have space and he’s tired, at end of his shift, but he tries a desperate cross-ice pass to Wennberg with two Mammoth there to jump on it high in zone.
Smith goal: Holy shit. Goal of the year stuff from Will. That’s Harlem Globetrotters stuff from Smith. Smith dangles Schmidt and Tanev, before sliding it past Vanecek. I mean, wow. That’s one of the best Sharks goals in years, SportsCenter-worthy. Mukhamadullin provided the screen, good read by him to jump up.
Gaudette goal: Poor pass from Keller back to Hayton, was looking for the exit. Unforced error. Eklund jumped on it, found Gaudette, who roofed a beaut backhand.
8 in: Cooley trying to pick a fight with Celebrini net front. Mammoth trying to get anything going.
Smith goal: Kid’s on fire. Good pass by Toffoli, and Smith just dragged it and fired.
7 left: Graf takes a hit to make a play to Dellandrea for an exit, not as easy pass through a Mammoth player. Liljegren also tracked back hard to prevent Guenther from having it easy on a partial break. Like to see that up with a big lead.
6 left: Utah…is the San Jose Sharks of previous years. Soft play all over the ice, can’t get the puck out, wow. Crazy to watch this happen in real time. I think Mammoth better than this, by the way, I mean what the Sharks are doing to them. This is what teams usually do to San Jose.
Crowd chanting "Sharkie! Sharkie!!" in solidarity with their Hall of Famer
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 2, 2025
2 left: Regenda almost worked Schmidt for a highlight-reel goal. For a playoff hopeful like Utah, they’re going to have some tough questions to face post-game.
Period 3
3 in: Reaves just hit Sergachev, crowd loved it.
Crouse goal: Wow, that’s an awful short-handed goal that the San Jose Sharks just gave up. I know it was 6-2, but that was sleepy defense and trackback.
8 in: And now, Peterka breakaway, almost slides in. Time for Sharks to get going here.
Holy damn. Watched Heated Rivalry and then a 6-3 Sharks win? What a great night of hockey. After it was 2-0 I knew it was gonna be one of those nights but wow. Much needed breakthrough game by Toffoli. Anyone who thinks Eklund is soft deserves what he does to them. My boy Graf continues to be rock solid – he just doesn’t make mistakes (that holding call was soft, and it’s his first penalty of the year). Mukh/Sam was uh not exactly set up for success, Mukhlov and Lily-Sam was much better. Klingberg, unfortunately, is washed. The guy cannot fucking skate any more. Just one goal… Read more »
My theory is that as soon as PP1 gets hot they throw Klinger in the mix to try to get him going.
That had to be Klinger best game too. I think he only made one or 2 screw ups and they weren’t as bad as some other games.
I didn’t think Klinger looked as bad as he has in some previous games. Still made a few plays that no one else on that blue line other than maybe Dicky is capable of but yeah his skating isn’t getting better. Still maybe you hang on to him if he’s untradeable for a break glass in case of playoffs scenario. He was more than decent with the Oil last playoff. Maybe if they can rest him and play him only 15 per night including PP2? I don’t know. Cags isn’t fast but he has more mobility and similar vision. Has… Read more »
Best Shak has looked in a while.
I low key love the MukDick pairing. Like if they’re gonna f*ck up might as well do it together.
I think they do it so Shak is the vet and takes responsibility for the pair. Makes him more assertive. I thought he was out there with Orlov a little 2 which is who he should be paired with but he defers to him too much. Doesn’t play with the same confidence.
Glad to see Shak in the lineup and doing some good things. Hopefully that helps him with his confidence and earns him some more starts. Consistency from him will benefit the team.
Also, in the interest of trying to put him him in the best situation to succeed, I’m wondering to what extent we can replicate the conditions under which he succeeded at the end of last year. Trying to remember with whom Mukhamadullin was paired then? And, I think he was playing on his off side, so maybe there’s something to that.
Shak was with Ferraro last season. I think it was a thrown to the wolves situation where they literally had no one else and Shak was basically playing #1D. He’s not that with this group so replicating it isn’t in the best interests of the team. Part of him becoming a regular is not needing that extreme situation to bring out reliable play from him. He’s going to have to just figure it out regardless of minutes played.
Gotta like a player who responds positively to more responsibility.
they tried previously but he kept having bonehead moments. Hopefully this game helps him turn a corner. The sooner he locks down a top 4 spot the better for the Sharks. When he’s playing well he’s pretty impressive.
Totally agree that if he can lock down a second pairing spot (with some PK and, eventually, some PP time) that would be a significant long term piece. As for now, I wouldn’t want them to overplay him and wreck his confidence (i.e., put him on a PP unit and/or play him 20+ minutes every game) or underplay him and wreck his confidence (i.e., yank him in and out of the lineup as he’s trying to settle into his game). I’m optimistic Warso can strike the right balance of playing him most games and on the 2nd or 3rd pairing… Read more »
That was fun to watch
The Smitty dangle was epic
So glad Toffoli broke out!
Gaudette has been soo good this year.
Randy Hanh calling 6 is a great day.
Sergachev looks miserable in Utah.
Tough to get a stiff drink when things aren’t going your way, too.
Really like these low stress 3rd periods. Just roll 4 lines and hang tough. Shorty against sucked but with a 4 goal lead, it is fixable.
Sharks in a playoff spot? Why yes they are!
Oh btw, with this latest Win, the Sharks are still 4 points away from 1st place in the Pacific. 🙂
Been a looooonnng time since I felt this confident in a Sharks team.
Shoety was firmly on Smith. Shit like that is why he won’t be centering a line anytime soon.🤣
Been a long time since it felt disappointing when they lose games too haha Somehow just need to find a top pairing D man to add to the roster
If by the end of the season Shak is firmly a top 4 D and Dicky is a lineup regular you don’t have to shelter this team is probably 2nd or 3rd in the division.
Agreed, hopefully that’s how it pans out. Feel like they have to keep playing Klingberg just so they can maybe get some sort of asset back.
2026 UFA market doesn’t have many options and not sure if Broberg is worth what if would cost as an RFA
There will be options in the trade market maybe pretty soon. If the Devils trade for Hughes they’ll look to move one of their other young D and or course the asabres will probably burn it to the ground.
Sign me up for Owen Power in a non dumpster fire franchise at a discounted rate
Zeke has me on the Dahlin bandwagon. If the Sharks can get him for somthing around Eklund, Cagnoni and picks that are the Sharks 1st then sign me up. I’m not quite convinced Power is a legit #1.
Two words: Auto Icing
Three Words: Nice Power Play
Four Words, Toff, I was wrong
Five Words: Sam D, only eleven minutes?
Six Words: Shak Mukh needs some damn consistency
Sevens Words: Why no love for Asky for Calder?
Fin.
Just in the last couple of days I read somewhere (maybe DFO…maybe The Athletic) where they were giving their early season award leaders that if Asky continues playing like this he might give Schaefer a run for his money for Calder.
Yeah, the Athletic had him top 3. Shayna Goldman also wrote him up today a bit saying he’s their best PK, he’s saved something like 11 goals above expected a man down since Nov 1. Honestly I feel like the PK has improved a lot around Asky, too, they haven’t given up many cross ice passes and they are consistently blocking shooting lanes, too. I feel the skaters aren’t getting enough credit. But having said that, Asky has stood on his head for awhile now.
What a fun game to watch. Mack and Smitty looked electric as usual, it was great to see papa Toff get going. I love the Dell, Gaudette line, they just get so much pressure and suffocate the other team in their own end. That goal against where Dicky floated in and let his guy pop ahead and score was horrible and something that should never happen, and I want to give him the rookie excuse but that wasn’t tolerable even in Jr. Oh well, overall he’s doing well and he was solid the rest of the game. Wish he’d shoot… Read more »
Delly can’t be talked about enough. The change from last season to this one is truly remarkable. He’s doing it at center too which seemed impossible last season.
as far as Dicky, that’s why they limit his minutes. Clearly they’re seeing things in game film too that they need to work with him on.
As a well-documented Reaves doubter (AT TIME OF TRADE), I’d say another big benefit of Reavo having turned back the clock is that it frees Deller from having to play a B game he was ill-suited to last year. Now that he’s not being asked to be the wrecking ball, he has already matched last season’s point total in 41 fewer games, and his PIMs have gone down from .86 PIM/gm to .37.
Except Delly is actually playing more like a wrecking ball this season. He’s way more physically engaged.