The Sharks played their final home game of the 2025-26 season on Saturday, and I was in attendance to witness my tenth and last game at the Shark Tank this season. They hosted the Vancouver Canucks, who are now the most recent team I have seen play in person for the first time and already clinched last place in the entire NHL heading into this game. The all-arena giveaway at this final home game of the season was of a Sharks + SAP Center insulated cooler bag. It was offered in either teal or orange, and I chose the one in teal because it looked better. Moments later, I met S.J. Sharkie again, and unlike the previous interactions I have had with him, this was the first time Sharkie ever tried to eat me, and he was giving out Sharkie’s #1 Fan pins out as well. Sharkie also appeared at and near the section I was seated in at times throughout the game.
Before diving into the game itself, I want to mention that I caught Elias Pettersson the star forward at the right place and time outside of the Hotel Valencia at Santana Row as he was about board the Canucks team bus to head over to SAP Center that afternoon. I was at Santana Row that afternoon prior to the game for other reasons, and this encounter just happened to be a coincidence. San Jose brought out Internet sensation Will Stephens of Trailer Park Sports Network, who I saw on the concourse near Sharkie and was featured on the Jumbotron a few times during the game.
The Sharks struck first late in the opening period, when Macklin Celebrini won and controlled the faceoff, then found Igor Chernyshov to score a great goal for his sixth of the season. Early in the second period, Marco Rossi scored on a mostly empty net to tie the game for the Canucks. Yaroslav Askarov ran into his own net from behind while scrambling to get back into his crease, causing Rossi to score and Askarov to push the top of his net over onto the ice. This was not a good goal and a sign of things to come. A few minutes later, the Sharks went back ahead on Tyler Toffoli’s 19th goal of the season, assisted by Sam Dickinson and Michael Misa. Late in the middle frame, the Canucks evened the game at two on a power play goal by Jake DeBrusk.
Late in the third period, Igor Chernyshov scored his second goal of the game and seventh goal of the season to give the Sharks a 3-2 lead, assisted by Macklin Celebrini and Dmitry Orlov. The primary assist on this go-ahead goal was Celebrini’s second assist of the night and puts him at 110 points in his sophomore campaign. While I was hoping this would be the game-winner, the Canucks had other plans, as Teddy Blueger scored on the Vancouver power play to tie it at three and force overtime. This final home game of the Sharks had to be decided in a shootout. Macklin Celebrini scored on his attempt in round two, while Jake DeBrusk scored on the Canucks’ following attempt in the same round. The shootout was officially won by the Canucks on successful attempt by Linus Karlsson in round six, giving Vancouver the victory.
Yaroslav Askarov recorded 38 saves on 41 shots against for the Sharks in his final home start of the season. It certainly wasn’t his best performance, as there was also one moment during the game in which one of his pads loosened after Tom Villander collided with him. On the brighter side, Sharks legends Mike Ricci, Evgeny Nabokov, Joe Thornton, and Patrick Marleau were all in attendance and located in one of the club sections right above where I was seated. I noticed the former three at times throughout this game, but I wasn’t able to get a good view of Patrick Marleau in that particular club section. Announced throughout this game were the Sharks’ team awards for this season. They are as follows: Macklin Celebrini as the unanimous Player of the Year, Yaroslav Askarov as Rookie of the Year, Mario Ferraro as Media Good Guy, and University of Denver defenseman and Collegiate National Champion Eric Pohlkamp as Prospect of the Year.
Since it was Fan Appreciation Night, the players and Sharkie tossed t-shirts towards the remaining fans in the building, and some lucky fans received game-worn jerseys directly from the players soon after the game concluded. My visit to the team store came after the game ended as well, in which I purchased a Macklin Celebrini 100 points t-shirt. Overall, I was disappointed that the Sharks were unable to overcome the Canucks in their last home game of the season, but it was certainly a close, interesting, and entertaining contest that was absolutely worth being in the building for. The Sharks are now 7-6-5 when I am at their games, and I am just over the halfway point in my quest to see all 32 NHL teams play in person. In fact, this leaves the Calgary Flames as the only Pacific Division team I have yet to see play in person. Win or lose, it has been a great season for the Sharks, and I cannot wait to make it back to the Tank next season with an improved Team Teal on the ice. Next up, the Sharks play their last three games of the season on the road against Central Division opponents, starting on Monday in Nashville against the Predators at 5 pm PT.
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