Sharks Let One Slip: San Jose Blows Two-Goal Lead, Falls to Oilers in OT Thriller
The San Jose Sharks had the Edmonton Oilers on the ropes. Up 3-1 midway through the first period, it looked like the Sharks were ready to notch a statement win against one of the league’s most explosive teams. But in a game that tested the mettle of San Jose’s young core, the Oilers stormed back and ultimately stole a 4-3 win in overtime at Rogers Place.
Let’s break it down.
First Period: Sharks Come Out Flying
San Jose wasted no time making noise. Just over a minute in, Collin Graf opened the scoring thanks to a relentless forecheck and a picture-perfect sequence from the Sharks’ top line.
It started with a high turnover by Edmonton, and instead of letting the Oilers off the hook, Graf forced the puck back in deep. Macklin Celebrini muscled it to Ty Smith, who waited just long enough to draw attention before finding Graf wide open.
That’s a line playing in sync-and playing with confidence.
Then came Adam Gaudette. William Eklund, who was buzzing all night, forced a turnover in the neutral zone and immediately turned it into offense.
He hit Gaudette in stride with a beautiful feed, and Gaudette did the rest. That quick-strike ability has been a theme lately: San Jose scored three in the first 7:37 against the Rangers, three in the first 5:55 against the Canucks, and now two in the first 1:35 against the Oilers.
The Sharks weren’t done. Celebrini, showing poise beyond his years, defended Connor McDavid like a seasoned vet-fronting him in the offensive zone, shadowing him, and picking off a pass to turn defense into possession. The Oilers responded with some pushback, as expected, but San Jose kept matching it.
Michael Misa added to the highlight reel with a goal off a gorgeous stretch pass from Timothy Liljegren. That made it 3-1, and it was the Sharks’ first shot in a while-proof that even when the Oilers were gaining momentum, San Jose could strike fast.
Second Period: Sharks Settle In, But Missed Chances Loom Large
The second period saw the Sharks settle into a more controlled game. They got a power play that helped slow Edmonton’s pace, and defensively, they were cleaner.
There was a moment where it looked like Barclay Goodrow had added to the lead, but the goal was waved off due to goalie interference-Ostapchuk went in a little too hard on Connor Ingram. Right call, but a tough break.
The Sharks had a few moments they’ll want back. On one rush, Smith had a clear shooting lane off a drop pass from Celebrini but hesitated, looking for an extra pass that got picked off.
That turned into an Oilers counterattack and nearly a breakaway the other way. Moments like that-where aggression gives way to overthinking-can swing a game.
Still, San Jose pushed back. Tyler Toffoli just missed a prime chance in the slot, and Misa’s line kept the forecheck going. Eklund, in particular, played with fire all night-relentless on the puck, fearless in traffic.
Liljegren had a strong defensive moment, recovering after a blocked shot to erase a breakaway threat. And in a moment that captured the spirit of the night, Celebrini appeared to try and decline a high-sticking penalty on Mattias Ekholm, who had just clipped him. That’s a young player earning respect the hard way.
Third Period: Oilers Roar Back
The third period was all about pressure-and whether the Sharks could withstand it.
Leon Draisaitl got the Oilers within one early, burying a rebound after a long-range shot squeezed through Yaroslav Askarov. The Sharks had done well to contain Edmonton’s stars for most of the night, but this was the start of the tide turning.
San Jose managed to kill a huge penalty midway through the frame, with Askarov making a wild glove save to preserve the lead. The Oilers weren’t perfect-they missed some passes they usually hit-but the pressure was building.
With just under five minutes left, McDavid struck. Edmonton had pulled Ingram for the extra skater, and after a long cycle, McDavid found space and picked a corner. Tie game.
The Sharks had chances to close it out. Ostapchuk had a look at the empty net but chose to feed a gassed Celebrini instead.
It was the right play, but it didn’t pay off. Then came the dagger.
Evan Bouchard’s point shot found the back of the net-possibly deflected-and just like that, the Oilers had clawed all the way back. San Jose tried to regroup, holding Celebrini for a late shift, but the damage was done.
In overtime, a costly turnover by Liljegren turned into the winner. He mishandled the puck and collided with Askarov, which left the net wide open for Zach Hyman to bury the game-winner.
Takeaways: A Learning Experience for the Young Sharks
This one stings, no doubt. When you’re up 3-1 on the road against a team like Edmonton, you want to close it out. But there’s a lot to like in how the Sharks played-for two periods, they were composed, opportunistic, and at times dominant.
Celebrini continues to show why he’s the real deal. Eklund played one of his most complete games of the season.
Misa and Graf continue to find ways to impact games with speed and smarts. And Askarov, despite the loss, made several game-saving stops.
But in the NHL, it’s about finishing. And against a team with McDavid and Draisaitl, you can’t afford mistakes-especially late.
The Sharks are growing, and games like this are part of the process. They’ll take the lessons, regroup, and move forward. But they’ll also remember how close they were to a signature win-and how quickly it slipped away.