After dispatching the rising Anaheim Ducks on Monday in a record-setting 7-4 scoring fest, tonight it’s a new foe that’s taken a quantum leap in their division now threatening to make the playoffs for the first time this decade.

The Sharks have a vibe about them: a young, re-energized franchise that is now reaping the benefits of depressing regular-season records to attract top-end talent. Maybe that corner is officially turned for them, maybe another season or two is needed.

But to be in a playoff spot at the end of January? To be already five points better than they were all of 2024-25? To have their most wins through 50 games since 2018-19?

It goes to show you what Macklin Celebrini and company have done.

After allowing the first goal on Tuesday against the Canucks just 1:15 into the game, the Sharks responded three times in the next five minutes to seize a multi-goal lead and win the game 5-2.

“That’s what we’ve done a really good job of this year, is when teams kind of push back on us, or try to get on their front foot, we do a good job of just kind of handling it, weathering it, and getting back to our game,” said Celebrini post-game.

Cel-e-brini good times c’mon!

Macklin vs McDavid. Hockey fans could talk about it the same way Oilers fans did in 2015 with McDavid vs Crosby.

This is the third head-to-head between them (McDavid missed one of the games last year due to injury). McDavid has five assists in those games, while Celebrini had just one point in three tries.

Regardless, it’s bloody remarkable the year this teenager is having. Not only does Celebrini have 27 goals and 78 points, which is the fourth most in the league, but that’s more than twice the amount of points the second-best scorer on San Jose has.

He’s averaging 21 minutes and five seconds of ice time, the crucial minutes up front, and is already one of the best players in the NHL.

“He wants to continue to get better,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “Even though he’ll have two goals and an assist, the next day we meet and we’re talking about D-zone coverage and puck play in the D zone and, yeah, he’s very accountable. The accountability that he has is what makes him great and is what is going to drive this organization forward for years to come.”

For just the second time in his career, he’ll play in Edmonton. His reputation is growing as a box-office draw, and perhaps he’ll even play on a line with Connor McDavid at the Olympics.

I’d get a ticket tonight if I could.

Grier grinding deals?

For the first time since being hired, Mike Grier seems to be focused on the present and improving the roster in the near-term.

There’s no other explanation why the Sharks would pony up two second-round picks and a prospect for top trade candidate Kiefer Sherwood, who plays a ham-and-egg game to the tune of 17 goals this year.

He wants a major payday in his next contract, but that’s tomorrow’s issue. Right now, they want to get Sherwood back in the lineup to make his debut soon – perhaps even tonight. No confirmation yet, though, as of late Wednesday night.

The Sharks have also been linked to Artemi Panarin, at least in local news coverage. San Jose Hockey Now reported on Wednesday night that Panarin would be willing to waive his no-move clause and extend in Northern California.

Panarin is being held out of the Rangers lineup to be traded, or at least until the extended February break, but the 34-year-old dynamo is still producing over a point-per-game.

Regardless, hopes of Edmonton targeting a Sharks player in a trade, like Mario Ferraro, grow slimmer.

Numbers

San Jose’s power play is smack dab in the middle of the league, operating at 20.9 per cent on the year. It utilizes several trigger points to score, with four Sharks at five power-play goals.

The penalty kill is still learning, looking to take a step at 77.7 per cent, which is in the bottom quarter of the NHL.

The five-on-five offence can be spotty. Overall, the Sharks are similar to the Ducks, where their goal share is seventh-worst at 46 per cent. The expected goals are even worse. Their Corsi percentage is worst (!) 32nd overall.

But Celebrini has been the great equalizer. Will Smith has five points in his last two games and 36 total on the season. William Eklund is also honing in on being a consistent 50-60 point player.

These guys look familiar

For the sixth time in his career, John Klingberg has scored 10 goals in a regular season. The former Oiler signed a one-year, $4 million contract in the off-season and is finding his offensive touch again after a season of difficult injuries.

Defenseman Vincent Desharnais returned for the Sharks on January 19 after missing 23 games with an upper-body injury. He was missed, especially by goaltender Yaroslav Askarov.

“He’s electric on the PK, that’s for sure,” said Askarov. “He’s a big guy. He probably makes more saves than I do, so I appreciate it.”

However, green pastures have not arrived for Jeff Skinner. After being yo-yoed in the Edmonton lineup a year ago, he can’t crack the Sharks lineup, and hasn’t played since January 11. With only 13 points this season, he did have five points in the last five games he played.

On whether he asked for a trade, he said this, according to Sharks’ beat reporter Curtis Pashelka:

“I’m aware of the roster situation. I’m aware of the amount of young guys here, and sort of where I fit in the big picture. Again, I’m not in control of that. I just come to practice. I think if things go on like that, it’s between managers or agents. As a player, I just worry about playing or practicing.”

Notes:

Celebrini’s four-point game on Tuesday was his fourth in the NHL, tying Jimmy Carson for the fourth most by a teenager in NHL history. Gretzky, Crosby, and Hawerchuk are the only players with more.
He also became the second-youngest active player to reach 50 career goals behind only Crosby (19 years, 120 days).
Collin Graf is an unfamiliar name we might hear a lot tonight. The former undrafted player is playing with Celebrini and Smith to the tune of 14 goals and 29 points.
The acquisition of Dmitri Orlov has helped fill a huge void in the Sharks d-core. His metrics are down from previous years, as SJ still hemorrhages a lot of goals against, but that might have been our first sign that Grier had eyes on accelerating the rebuilding process.
Orlov and Sam Dickinson are the only defencemen with contracts past this season for San Jose. Interesting.
The Shark Tank used to be one of the toughest buildings in the league to play in. While the Oilers won’t play there until February 28, San Jose is five games above .500 at home. But they are not home-ice merchants.
The Sharks are one game above .500 on the road, and before the Olympic break, play nine of their last 10 games away. So far, they are 4-2 in this stretch.
In their last 22 games, they’ve won 14 games. In fact, the Sharks have won the same number of games (27) as the Oilers have this season, in three fewer tries.
This head-to-head has been one-sided. Edmonton is 9-1 against the Sharks in their last 10 matchups. The Oilers have won seven straight at home against the Sharks, dating back to February 6, 2020.

Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and has been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, he also collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues.

ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365

Featured

Editorials

Recent articles from Michael Menzies

Pre-Scout: Is Macklin vs. McDavid the next great player rivalry?

Top 100 Oilers: No. 52 – Blair MacDonald

Top 100 Oilers: No. 53 – Martin Gelinas