The San Jose Sharks are going to have a tough time turning round their season in the event that they proceed to make too many errors within the defensive zone.
The Sharks peppered the New York Islanders with 29 pictures within the first two durations on Tuesday night time, however have been their very own worst enemy at instances, particularly in entrance of their very own internet, in a 4-3 loss at UBS Enviornment.
With the sport tied 2-2, the Sharks have been caught trying on the puck on an influence play aim by Islanders ahead Emil Heineman late within the first interval and likewise on a second interval aim at even energy by rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer.
Macklin Celebrini reduce the Islanders’ result in one along with his second aim of the season on the 10:16 mark of the third interval, however the Sharks fell to 0-4-2 on the season and remained the NHL’s final winless workforce.
Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov made 23 saves in his third begin of the season. Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin made 33 saves, together with 14 within the first interval.
Collin Graf and Adam Gaudette additionally scored for the Sharks, whose four-game street journey continues Thursday in opposition to the New York Rangers.
Michael Misa’s first level within the NHL got here on Gaudette’s aim, which tied the sport 2-2 on the 14:16 mark of the primary interval.
Defenseman Sam Dickinson saved the puck within the Islanders’ zone after a clearing try along with his hand and despatched the puck into the nook. Graf collected the puck behind the web and backhanded it out entrance to Misa, who despatched it throughout the crease to Gaudette, who scored his second of the season on a largely empty internet.
The Islanders retook the lead simply earlier than the primary intermission. With Dickinson serving a holding penalty, Askarov made a save on an Anders Lee redirection. However Lee, with time, put the puck again on internet, the place it sat close to Askarov’s skate and the submit earlier than winger Emil Heineman got here in and slapped it throughout the aim line for a 3-2 New York lead.
Bo Horvat and Casey Cizikas additionally scored within the first for the Islanders, who had simply eight pictures within the first 20 minutes. Cizikas’ aim got here off of the stick of Dickinson, who misplaced management of the puck proper in entrance of the web.
Askarov entered Tuesday with a 0-1-1 report and a .833 save proportion. Among the many 55 goalies who’ve performed no less than two video games this season, Askarov, per Cash Puck, was 51st in targets saved above anticipated (-2.4).
Goaltending, poor puck administration, and a few shoddy play in their very own zone left the Sharks tied for final within the NHL in targets allowed per sport (5.00).
Askarov was enjoying reverse countryman Sorokin, who completed second in Vezina Trophy voting because the league’s prime goalie and was an NHL All-Star in 2023.
The Sharks reunited Celebrini with wingers Tyler Toffoli and Will Smith, the so-called sleepover traces, for Tuesday’s sport. The trio spent a while collectively final season, and, per Pure Stat Trick, had some modest success with 27 scoring possibilities created in simply over 60 minutes of ice time throughout 5-on-5 play.
The Sharks have been determined for any scoring after managing simply two even-strength targets of their final three video games – all losses in regulation time.
“We know we can play better. We know we have in here,” Celebrini advised reporters earlier than the sport. “We see it in video and see it in the game in real time. We know what we need to do. It’s just about executing.”
Together with some elevated aim manufacturing, the Sharks have been in search of a greater sport from Askarov.
Tuesday’s sport marked the primary time the Sharks had confronted Schaefer, the No. 1 general choice on this 12 months’s draft. The Sharks had a 25.5% likelihood of profitable the NHL Draft Lottery in Might after they completed with the league’s worst report in 2024-25. However the prime decide went to the Islanders, who had only a 3.5% likelihood of profitable the lottery.
The Sharks wound up with the No. 2 general decide and chosen Misa, one other Ontario Hockey League star who was enjoying in his third NHL sport. Schaefer had 5 factors in 5 video games, and Misa was in search of his first NHL level coming into the street journey.
“I’ve known him for a while now,” Misa mentioned of Schaefer. “We’re pretty good friends, so it’s cool to see what he’s doing over there. I wish him nothing but the best in his career. He’s going to have a long one.”
Initially Printed: October 21, 2025 at 6:48 PM PDT
