Sharks Let One Slip in Edmonton - Now Comes the Real Test
For 40 minutes in Edmonton, the San Jose Sharks looked like a team in control. Up 3-0 heading into the third period, they had silenced a high-powered Oilers squad and seemed poised to walk out of Rogers Place with a signature road win. But hockey’s a 60-minute game-and the Sharks learned that lesson the hard way.
With the Oilers pushing late and their net empty, San Jose cracked under pressure. Two goals in just over two minutes erased what felt like a commanding lead, and suddenly, overtime loomed.
That’s when things unraveled further. A pair of tough moments from Timothy Liljegren-miscues that will stick with him-led to a gut-punch OT loss that left the Sharks stunned.
This wasn’t just another loss. It was the kind of collapse that can linger if not addressed head-on. And while no one’s throwing in the towel, the way San Jose responds to this one could say a lot about where this young team is headed.
Former Shark Jason Demers chimed in on social media with a message of resilience: “No such thing as failure, just an opportunity to learn. Err on the side of aggression.
The boys will bounce back better than ever.” It’s the kind of mindset this group will need to adopt-and fast.
Because the road doesn’t get any easier.
The Sharks are in the middle of a crucial road trip, with three games still to play. Two of those are against teams currently behind them in the standings: the Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks.
These aren’t just games-they’re opportunities. Opportunities to prove that what happened in Edmonton was a fluke, not a trend.
Head coach Ryan Warsofsky and rookie phenom Macklin Celebrini have both echoed the same mantra during this trip: “Be where our feet are.” It’s a simple phrase, but it carries weight. In a league where momentum can shift in an instant, staying grounded and focused on the moment is everything.
And that’s the challenge now. Not to dwell on the collapse, but to learn from it. Not to let a tough loss spiral into a losing streak, but to use it as fuel.
The Sharks have shown flashes this season-stretches where they look like a team ready to take the next step. But growth isn’t linear, especially for a team still finding its identity. How they handle adversity like this will go a long way in shaping who they become.
Next up: Calgary. Then Chicago.
Then Winnipeg. Three more chances to show they’ve got short memories and long-term vision.
The bite is still there. Now it’s time to prove it.