The San Jose Sharks kicked off their East Coast road trip with a gritty 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals - and it came with a little extra meaning. Not only was it a bounce-back effort after a tough loss to the Caps about a month ago, but it might also have been the final time the Sharks face off against Alex Ovechkin. If that’s the case, they made it count.
This one didn’t exactly start with fireworks. Both teams looked a bit out of sync early, struggling to generate rhythm off the rush.
But it wasn’t without its chances - Washington nearly struck less than a minute in, as two Caps found themselves alone in front of the net. That’s when Alex Nedeljkovic made his first big statement of the night, shutting the door with a sharp save that set the tone for what turned into a milestone performance in his 200th NHL game.
Up front, the Sharks rolled out a new-look top line with Igor Chernyshov, Macklin Celebrini, and Collin Graf. While there were flashes, the trio couldn’t quite find their footing in the first period.
They struggled to maintain offensive zone time and were a bit loose defensively, coughing up a few uncharacteristic turnovers. Head coach Ryan Warsofsky didn’t hesitate to make an in-game adjustment, swapping in Pavol Regenda for Chernyshov.
“That line just looked off, to be honest with you,” Warsofsky said postgame. “Reggie is a pretty direct player. I think we needed some more direct play in our game, and I think that helped.”
Washington opened the scoring on a bit of a fluky bounce, but that seemed to light a fire under San Jose. The Sharks came out flying in the second period, peppering Logan Thompson with shots and tilting the ice heavily in their favor.
Thompson did everything he could to hold the line - and for a while, it looked like he might steal the show. But eventually, the pressure cracked the dam.
**Three goals. Two minutes and forty-six seconds.
One massive momentum swing. **
That’s all it took for the Sharks to flip the script late in the second period. What had been a 1-0 deficit turned into a 3-1 lead in a blink.
And here’s the thing: this isn’t the same Sharks team that would’ve let that lead slip away in recent years. This group knows how to close.
San Jose is now 16-0-1 when leading after two periods, the lone blemish being the chaotic home opener loss to Vegas.
Back to Nedeljkovic - he was rock solid down the stretch. The Capitals made a late push, and given their recent comeback win over Montreal, it felt like déjà vu might be creeping in.
But “Ned” was locked in, turning aside 21 of 23 shots and sealing his third straight win. Ovechkin had a prime look that could’ve left a dent in the boards - or the goalie - but Nedeljkovic stood tall.
It was a composed, clutch performance, the kind that’s becoming more and more common for the veteran netminder as he helps stabilize the crease and gives Yaroslav Askarov and the rest of the team a chance to breathe.
And then there’s the game-winner - a beauty, and a perfect encapsulation of where this Sharks team is right now.
It starts with the dirty work. Celebrini battles along the wall, refuses to give up on the puck, and wins it back.
Graf jumps in with smart support. And then, just when you think the play might die out, Celebrini pulls off a ridiculous no-look pass to Regenda, who buries it for his first career game-winning goal.
That makes him the 13th different Shark to notch a game-winner this season - a testament to the depth and balance that’s quietly becoming a strength for this team.
This wasn’t just a good win. It was a mature win.
The kind of game that shows how far this young core has come. The Sharks are in the middle of a brutal stretch - their third set of back-to-backs in a row - and yet they’re playing with poise, structure, and confidence.
Celebrini continues to be the engine, but the supporting cast is stepping up in key moments. That’s what separates flashes of potential from something more sustainable.
This team isn’t sneaking up on anyone anymore. They’re not a feel-good story of the week. They’re earning their wins, game after game, and proving that what started as a rebuild might be accelerating faster than anyone expected.
Next up: a tough test against a red-hot Red Wings squad on Friday. But if this Sharks team has taught us anything lately, it’s that they’re not backing down from anyone.