San Jose Sharks
Sharks Dominate Canucks 5-2: Celebrini Scores 4 Points
VANCOUVER — The San Jose Sharks take on the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena.
Macklin Celebrini and Adam Gaudette and Tyler Toffoli and Will Smith and John Klingberg scored, and the Sharks won 5-2.
Period 1
Willander goal: Double flash screen for Askarov plus Liljegren too, hard to put that on Askarov. Perfectly-placed shot too.
Celebrini goal: But Macklin answers with a breathtaking shift, what a move high on Chytil, Lankinen save, then one-timer pass from Smith, blows it by Lankinen. Same backhand pass almost as the Rangers goal lol. He gets a hometown cheer afterwards from a crowd that’s probably given up on this Canucks season.
4 in: Nice chance for Misa, hitting the spot with speed. He also had a steal high earlier in game. He looks faster than before.
Gaudette goal: What a steal by Celebrini high in zone. Eklund pass nicely-timed where Gaudette can wire it right before Chytil backcheck catches up. Subtle but key.
Toffoli goal: Soft defense from Canucks, Wennberg to Toffoli in slot. Tolopilo goes in for Lankinen.
Tyler Toffoli adds on to the lead with his 15th goal of the season, now 3-1 #SJSharks just 5:55 into the contest. It’s the fastest three goals from the start of a game in Sharks history, beating the previous fastest (March 29, 1994) by one second.
— San Jose Sharks PR (@SanJoseSharksPR) January 28, 2026
Askarov has allowed some soft rebounds up the middle so far. Hasn’t hurt Sharks yet, but dangerous game there.
7 in: Smith crossbar, San Jose Sharks having their way. This is a good test though, they raced out to quick lead against Rangers, kind of softened in their play throughout game. Can Sharks keep it up here? So far, they have.
9 in: Liljegren gets a couple one-timer chances off cycle. Hasn’t been normal to see that for San Jose over the years in any regular season game, even against an opponent as depleted as Vancouver. Just punishing on cycle.
7 left: Misa with a sweet move on Marcus Pettersson, that’s no small feat, the rook is playing with more confidence.
3 left: Just dominating San Jose Sharks’ shift, then Canucks ice it for no reason. They look like 2023-24 Sharks.
Icing after icing by the Canucks. Again, this looks familiar.
This was the right way for the San Jose Sharks to finish this period. Another goal would’ve been nice, but playing the right way.
Celebrini penalty: First gasp of air that Vancouver has had in a while. Former Sharks’ pick Linus Karlsson draws the call on Celebrini, no argument from Mack. Big Sharks’ kill to start period.
Period 2
3 in: Scrambly for the Sharks there, big one-timer stop by Askarov, but he’s flopping around. Not blaming him, San Jose put him in that position.
4 in: Then Klingberg behind net, forced to give it to Askarov for faceoff. Sharks need to reassert. Canucks pushing back.
Blueger penalty: Celebrini forces an interference, time for Sharks to step on throats.
Smith goal: That’ll do it. What a shot. Finds a spot high. They play “1979” after that goal, not sure why haha. Probably speaks to Canucks fans longing for a better time, even if 1979 wasn’t anything special for their franchise.
8 left: Wennberg and Smith exchange gorgeous passes cross slot. Smith hard pass to Wennberg, impressive reception from Wennberg.
6 left: Another Canucks’ icing, solid cycle shift from Misa line. After brief Vancouver pushback, good to see San Jose Sharks take game over again.
Goodrow penalty: Here’s Canucks’ chance, almost full 5-on-3 for Vancouver here. Notably, Wennberg-Ferraro-Desharnais to start.
Askarov at his best on this kill, and Ferraro with massive blocks.
Kane 10-9 over Liljegren. That was quick. Not sure what set that off. Would guess Kane just wanted to blow off steam, wonder if there will be a response, Kane sort of picking on a non-fighter.
That was the first fight of Timothy Liljegren's career
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 28, 2026
Period 3
Klingberg goal: Klingberg’s last goal was also in Vancouver, literally a month ago on 12/27. Great Wennberg screen. Celebrini has four points.
3 in: I’m eating a fruit cup lol. That’s how easy this game looks for San Jose. I rarely eat in game. I’m impressed by Vancouver pressbox, they’ve got papaya. I don’t even like papaya. Fruit platters I see around the league usually go watermelon, cantaloupe, blueberries, strawberries, and pineapples.
5 in: Klingberg does nice job, aggressive break-up of 2-on-1, Blueger doesn’t get chance to do anything.
Hronek goal: Hammers it on the PP. Let’s see if this sparks something in the Canucks. Good test for Sharks to see if they can close out Vancouver without a peep.
10 in: Wennberg line responds, just goes to work down low. Regenda is a nice add that way, that’s just his game.
6 left: Liljegren and Eklund with a winning backcheck effort up three. But then Liljegren with a not great pass to the front, but Askarov erases the mistake.
4 left: Reaves with a winning backcheck effort. Small things, but I really like how Sharks managed momentum tonight.
Askarov’s first win in almost 3 weeks, last one was 1/7 at Los Angeles Kings.
I know Vancouver has some injuries and players sick but they looked brutal. That front office really needs to tear it down and do a full rebuild.
For real!
They are doing it. Exhibit A: Kiefer Sherwood. But the contracts they have are hard to move. Sharks fans should know that feeling all too well.
Much deserved dub for Askarov. Hoping it sparks more confidence even though the Canucks are such a bad team.
Always fun to watch a Sharks win!!
Just wanna say Evander Kane is a punk ass coward for “fighting” Lil J-gren. He’s such a fucking idiot too, taking penalties that routinely hurt his team.
Anyways, GO SHARKS!!
That was such a punk ass move. Fight in your weight class you putz.
I think they play one more time, Common Reevo, punch EK in the face!
Assuming all stay healthy I think WillMac can break the Toews/Kane pre 21 combined goals record!?
I agree. They may break it this season.
Is it before both turn 21? Smith’s 21st is coming up in mid March. With the Olympic break in there, that’s a tight window.
Hmm. The photo for this article has Sherwood playing in a Canucks uniform.
They said that Sherwood won’t be playing but he did! Look at the first photo on top, there he is, #44 playing for…Vancouver.
Very good. On to the Oilers!
Good teams take care of business against bad teams.
Sharks did it to NYR a few days ago, did it to VAN tonite.
Good for Askarov to get that W, especially coming up big on the 5v3 PP the Canucks had. Though I did have flashbacks to 5v3 PP by the Canucks vs the Sharks back in the Sedin days. Probably cost the Sharks a trip to the SCF.
Love the progression by Misa. He’s a great skater. Looks a little like a bigger Eklund the way he moves. He’s going to become a big problem for the league sooner than later. Having Celly there to help push him is incredibly lucky.
He looked so solid. Already doing things that Eklubd can’t (not to compare them)
Yeah definitely don’t want to compare their ability or play style. I was mainly referring to his very leaned over skating style. It’s the first thing I notice when I show up to a pickup skate. It’s how I recognize who all is there that day. Everyones a little unique.
One thing I worry about Misa, he looks down a little too much when stick handling thru traffic. Someones going to clean his clock.
That’ll change the more comfortable he gets playing at this level and gains that confidence.
It really seems like he’s gained a ton of confidence the last couple weeks… Like Morpheus said, there is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.
Misa had some great looks down low and he’s gonna start burying those sooner than later and that will be the next step.
Dickinson is another who is really starting to assert himself. Wasn’t perfect last night, but it was almost certainly his best game offensively. Could have had even a couple more assists, he was putting the puck in dangerous spots all night
Yeah, definitely loving Tricky Dicks progression too.
Show me the money, please!
Huh?
Think Warso said “inch by inch…” he is improving and he looked good out there tonight and I bet he’s gonna look better and better with time. When he reaches his potential look out! Dickie with 2 apples and increases in poise and positioning. Love It!