The San Jose Sharks came into Minnesota looking for a reset after a players-only meeting in Los Angeles. Instead, they ran into a Wild team that kept cashing in on chances and walked away with a 4-1 win.
Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes did the heavy lifting for Minnesota, with both players piling up multiple points on the night. Kaprizov opened the scoring and finished with his 16th goal of the season, while Hughes added the goal that pushed the Wild further ahead in the third period.
The Sharks made life harder on themselves early. Ty Dellandrea was whistled for holding seven minutes in, and just 28 seconds later Collin Graf was sent off for tripping Kirill Kaprizov. That sequence gave Minnesota a long 5-on-3 power play before the first period was halfway over, and the Wild made it count almost immediately when Kaprizov scored.
San Jose had a couple of power-play chances late in the period but couldn’t answer back.
Not long after that opening goal, Jacob Trouba was penalized for interference, and Minnesota went right back to work on the man advantage. Maxim Shabanov scored quickly for his sixth goal of the season to put the Wild back in front.
Hughes then added another dagger at 6:54 of the third period, and that goal gave both he and Kaprizov their third point of the game.
The win also marked a major team milestone for Minnesota. With the 4-1 result, the Wild recorded their 1,000th victory and became the fastest team in NHL history to reach that number.
For San Jose, the slide continues. The loss stretched the Sharks’ losing streak to four games.
In Other News...
Sharks Desperately Shake Up Lineup As Bigger Questions Start Looming
The Sharks are trying to jolt a lineup that has been searching for answers, and the latest tweak comes ahead of a matchup with the Minnesota Wild. Michael Misa has been shifted to left wing on the top line, a move that underscores how San Jose is still experimenting with its forward group as it looks for any combination that can generate more traction.
Filip Bystedt is sitting as a healthy scratch, while Yaroslav Askarov is set to start in goal again as the team tries to steady itself after recent losses. A players-only meeting followed the skid, and with Ryan Warsofsky still under contract and no plans for a coaching change, the pressure is increasingly about performance and urgency rather than a quick external fix. Alexander Wennberg remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury, though he could be activated soon. [Read more 🡒]
Celebrini And Sharks Trying To Block Out The Noise Again
The Sharks 7-2 loss to the Kings was the kind of night that leaves a lot of room for postgame reflection, and there was no shortage of it afterward. San Jose has now dropped six of its last seven, and the tone in the room centered on the same familiar themes: some individual bright spots, some uneven stretches, and a need for cleaner play as the losses keep piling up.
Ryan Warsofsky singled out Michael Misa and said Ty Dellandrea may have turned in his best game of the season, even as the fourth line came under scrutiny for its struggles. The bigger challenge is coming fast, with the Sharks heading into a back-to-back against the Dallas Stars, and the question now is whether they can put the noise aside long enough to reset before the schedule tightens again. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Emerge In Trade Talks That Could Get Very Expensive
The Sharks are still looking for ways to upgrade the back end, and one avenue has apparently led them into trade discussions with Detroit over restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson. San Jose has been exploring options for a puck-moving defenseman, but with limited salary cap space to work with, any meaningful roster change is going to require some creativity.
Michael Misa has been part of the conversation, yet the price tag appears to be climbing beyond a one-for-one framework. Detroit is believed to be pressing for a larger package, with other young San Jose pieces reportedly in the mix as the sides continue to feel out whether there is a deal worth making. [Read more 🡒]