Sharks Show Bite in 4-1 Win Over Panthers Behind Balanced Attack and Gritty Defensive Play
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The San Jose Sharks rolled into Amerant Bank Arena and delivered one of their most complete performances of the season, knocking off the Florida Panthers 4-1 in a game that showcased a mix of timely scoring, physicality, and a defense that bent but didn’t break.
Four different Sharks found the back of the net - Will Smith, Vincent Desharnais, Mario Ferraro, and Barclay Goodrow - as San Jose leaned on depth and discipline to outlast a Panthers squad that made a strong push but couldn’t crack the Sharks’ structure often enough.
First Period: Feeling Out the Ice, Surviving the Storm
Early on, the Sharks showed flashes of the physical edge they've been trying to cultivate. Zack Ostapchuk drew a penalty by using his size and speed to pressure Boqvist along the boards - the kind of gritty, momentum-swinging play that doesn't show up on the scoresheet but sets a tone.
On the power play, San Jose rolled out two fairly traditional units. PP1 featured Klingberg, Celebrini, Smith, Eklund, and Wennberg, while PP2 had Orlov, Misa, Chernyshov, Toffoli, and Regenda. The structure was there, but the execution was still catching up.
A key moment came on the penalty kill when Mario Ferraro showed poise under pressure. Instead of rushing a clearance, he took a beat behind his own net, absorbed the moment, and fired a smart bank pass off the wall to relieve pressure. That kind of veteran calm can be contagious.
Vincent Desharnais had a moment of rust midway through the period, pinching at the wrong time and leaving the Sharks exposed to a 2-on-1. Fortunately, the Panthers mishandled the puck, and Desharnais hustled back to help even things up. Later, he delivered a reverse hit on Matthew Tkachuk that left an impression - and maybe a mental note for later.
Despite trailing 9-8 in shots, the Sharks were fortunate to escape the first period without giving up a goal. Florida generated better chances and looked like they were starting to wear San Jose down. The second period’s long change loomed large.
Second Period: Sharks Take Control
The second frame belonged to San Jose.
Will Smith opened the scoring off a smart sequence. Ferraro kept the puck alive with a pinch, Wennberg retrieved it and sent it up top to Liljegren, who fired a low shot that created a juicy rebound. Smith, just stepping onto the ice, was in the right place at the right time and buried it with composure.
Desharnais followed with a goal of his own - but it was his full-ice effort that stood out. He started the play by erasing Samoskevich in the corner, then raced up ice to join the rush.
Misa and Chernyshov led a partial 2-on-1, and when Chernyshov’s shot rebounded, Desharnais was there, battling through two defenders to punch it home. That’s a 200-foot goal if there ever was one.
Ferraro made it 3-0 thanks to some smart offensive zone work. Goodrow picked up a loose puck and dropped it to Misa on the entry.
Goodrow then drove straight to the net, drawing defenders and opening space for Misa and Chernyshov to operate. Chernyshov fired from a sharp angle, and the rebound landed perfectly for Ferraro, who jumped into the slot to finish.
Goodrow didn’t get an assist, but he did all the dirty work that made the play happen.
Moments later, we saw the Sharks rally around their young core. After Balinskis dropped Misa with a hit, Regenda wasted no time stepping in with a cross-check.
He picked up the extra penalty, but the message was clear: this team protects its own. That kind of response builds trust in the room.
The Sharks fed off that energy. Celebrini nearly scored twice on the ensuing kill, first with a dazzling move in front, then by setting up Klingberg on the weak side. The puck skipped, but the momentum was unmistakable.
Klingberg showed flashes of both extremes in his game - a gorgeous stretch bounce pass to Graf that didn’t lead to a goal, and a near-disastrous turnover in front of his own net. But when he’s locked in, he’s still capable of tilting the ice.
Bobrovsky kept the Panthers in it with a brilliant save on Toffoli after a slick passing sequence from Eklund and Wennberg. But San Jose was buzzing.
Third Period: Weathering the Push, Sealing the Win
The Panthers got on the board early in the third with a goal from Luostarinen, possibly deflected by Orlov. It was exactly the kind of goal Florida needed to spark a comeback - and the kind of moment that tests a young team’s resolve.
To their credit, the Sharks didn’t fold.
Orlov won a key puck battle against Lundell down low. Misa, playing one of his most complete games of the season, contributed with a solid defensive shift. Liljegren flattened Tkachuk, continuing his strong stretch of play.
There was controversy midway through the period when Rodrigues boarded Desharnais with no call. The Panthers got a power play shortly after, but San Jose’s penalty kill stood tall again - a huge moment that kept the game from slipping.
Nedeljkovic came up with a string of critical saves, including one on Bjornfot, who found himself alone in front after a failed clear. The Sharks were on their heels, but Ned kept them upright.
Still, San Jose needed to settle down. A careless pass from Celebrini led to a Panthers 2-on-1 - the kind of play that could’ve flipped the game.
Earlier, Klingberg and Dickinson had handled a similar rush with textbook communication: Klingberg took away the pass, Dickinson trusted his wheels to close the gap. That’s the blueprint.
Finally, Goodrow got his due. After doing the dirty work all night - including a screen on Ferraro’s goal that didn’t earn him an assist - he found the net himself, sealing the 4-1 win and putting an exclamation point on a performance that was as gritty as it was effective.
The Takeaway
This win wasn’t just about the scoreboard. It was about the Sharks showing who they’re becoming - a team that scores by committee, protects its young stars, and leans on a goaltender who can weather storms when needed.
San Jose didn’t just beat a strong Florida team. They outworked them, outlasted them, and outplayed them when it mattered most.
If this is the version of the Sharks we’ll be seeing more of, the rest of the league should start paying attention.