Shark Storm Come Back to Defeat Utah with First Win of Season – Hockey Writers – San Jose Sharks

In one of the best early NHL comebacks of the season, the San Jose Sharks overcame a three-goal deficit with less than five minutes left to earn a 5-4 overtime victory over the Utah Hockey Club on Monday (Oct. 28). The win was important for the Sharks given their early season slump, it sparked excitement in the team and took a lot of weight off their shoulders. The result took a full effort from the players and coaches, and while the game wasn't perfect, it shows how much San Jose has improved since last season, however small that improvement may have been.

Ryan Warsofsky's Aggressive Move Sparks Comeback

Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky got his first NHL win back, and he has one of his decisions to thank for it. Trailing 4-1 with 4:39 left, he pulled goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood for an extra skater. Taking out a goalie with so much time left is dangerous, and it would have completely taken the game away from the Sharks if they had allowed empty-net goals. But it worked well – Fabian Zetterlund, Mikael Granlund and Tyler Toffoli hit three consecutive six-of-five goals in less than two minutes to tie the game.

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Coaching obviously had benefits in the game, but the positive effects may carry over to the rest of the season. Warsofsky created scoring opportunities for the team's top three offensive players, boosting their confidence and creating positive momentum. In addition, Jake Walman assisted on all three goals, and while they didn't come on the power play, his work in the assist position should give him plenty of opportunities as a defenseman on the first power play.

Late in the game with his team trailing, Warsofsky knew he needed to light some kind of fire and make a bold choice. He was rewarded for it, and it could be just what he needs to turn around a rough start to his head coaching career.

Alexander Wennberg's Hard Work Pays Off

Scorers get attention when they return, but they can't be successful without their teammates doing small things that have a big impact. Each of the last three goals in regulation started with Alexander Wennberg winning a faceoff, and he recorded an assist from Toffoli. Had the Sharks not recovered the puck thanks to Wennberg's efforts, they would not have scored a single goal and would have lost by just over three. After winning a crucial faceoff in overtime to start the power play, he got the big prize by scoring the game-winner.

With four points in 10 games, Wennberg isn't posting flashy numbers, but he's establishing himself as a valuable and versatile forward. At 30 years old, he gives the veteran the Sharks hoped for when they signed him. He leads the team in faceoff wins and plays significant minutes on both the power play and the penalty kill. As the Sharks rebuild, they need their experienced players to set the tone and lead by example, doing everything they can to win games. Against Utah and throughout the season, Wennberg did just that, and will continue to do so as long as he continues to take the ice.

Sharks Thrive on the Edge

Despite the win, the Sharks are still in last place in the NHL, and the first one is trailing 4-1 which is a problem in itself. However, a closer look at the last two seasons of San Jose hockey shows where they were and where they are now.

The Sharks have four points this season. A year ago today, the Sharks had one point. After the victory over Utah, the Sharks have beaten their opponents twice in 10 games this season. The 2023-24 Sharks did not beat an opponent until the 20th game. The Sharks of the season got their first win in their tenth game. Not only did last season's Sharks take 12 games to get there, but their 10th game they lost 10-1, which contributed to a minus-35 goal loss compared to this season's minus-20 to 10 games.

In small but meaningful ways, the Sharks are getting better. How many times last season did they trail by a few goals late on and fail to make any impact with an extra bowler? How many times in the last season have they let a game like this turn into a six or seven loss? That they made last night's contest close is an improvement, especially this early in the season, and that they won it is a big step.

Just like last season, the Sharks faced a brutal first nine games to start their campaign. Instead of sinking as deep as they did almost one year ago, the players and coaching staff faced their struggles and responded with an unprecedented win of the season.