UPDATE: The San Jose Sharks suffered a crushing 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on December 16, 2023, ending their homestand with a disappointing thud. The defeat came just 2:30 into the third period when the Sharks, who had taken a 2-1 lead, allowed two quick goals, sealing their fate in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,435 at SAP Center.
The game shifted dramatically when Ryker Evans fired a shot from just inside the blue line that found its way past a screened Yaroslav Askarov, tying the game at 1:55 into the period. Moments later, Ryan Lindgren scored his first goal of the season, putting the Kraken ahead 3-2 with 15:33 remaining in the game. The Sharks could not recover, missing a vital opportunity to gain points against a struggling Kraken team that had only one win in their last eleven games.
The Sharks’ last game before the Christmas break is on December 19 against the Vegas Golden Knights, followed by a matchup with the Vancouver Canucks on December 23. After showing promise earlier in the season, the Sharks have now lost three of their last six games, finishing the homestand with a 1-2-0 record.
The Kraken opened the scoring at 6:52 of the second period. Macklin Celebrini attempted to kick a loose puck back to Vincent Iorio, but Eeli Tolvanen intercepted the pass and fired it past Askarov for a 1-0 lead. Despite the setback, the Sharks dominated much of the second period, eventually tying the game at 11:22 when Adam Gaudette scored his eighth goal of the season on a power play, assisted by Celebrini and Igor Chernyshov.
Askarov, who recorded 28 saves throughout the match, faced intense pressure, particularly in the first period where he made several critical saves, including a last-minute stop against Kaapo Kakko after a slick pass from Jordan Eberle.
“We had the lead and let it slip away,” said Sharks coach after the game. “It’s disappointing to not secure points against a team that’s been struggling.”
The Sharks now face a critical juncture in their season. Fans are left wondering if they can regroup and find their rhythm before the holiday break. The urgency for improvement is palpable as the Sharks prepare to hit the road for their next challenging contests.
