Sharks 2023-24 Game 26 Recap: Sharks 5, Islanders 4 (OT) (12/5/23)

 The Sharks completed a huge comeback against the other New York team on the road, winning 5-4 in overtime. 

 This was simply incredible. Team Teal has been stepping up their game as of late, and it’s starting to pay off big time. First off, the Islanders began the scoring nearly halfway through the opening period via Julien Gauthier before Tomas Hertl would notch his first goal of the game to even it up at one through one period of play, with Anthony Duclair getting the lone assist on this equalizer. 

The Islanders then scored the next three goals via Brock Nelson in the second period and Mike Reilly and Ryan Pulock in the third period to take a 4-1 lead until roughly the midway point of the third period. This would be when the Sharks began their comeback efforts, starting with Kevin Labanc's first goal of the season, with the lone assist on that goal going to Nikita Okhotiuk. This was followed up by Tomas Hertl scoring the next two goals late in the third period to complete the hat trick and tie it up at four to force overtime. Assists went to Mikael Granlund and William Eklund on Hertl's second of the game and Eklund and Alexander Barabanov on Hertl's hat trick goal, marking the sixth hat trick of Tomas Hertl's NHL career. Only Jonathan Cheechoo has more hat tricks than Hertl in Sharks franchise history with nine. This comeback effort by the Sharks in the third period would ultimately lead up to William Eklund scoring the overtime game-winner and the biggest goal of his NHL career so far with five seconds remaining in the OT period. Mikael Granlund picked up the only assist on the Eklund OT GWG.

Kaapo Kahkonen was in net for the Sharks against the Islanders and had another quality start, collecting a total of 35 saves on 39 shots against. In other news, Sharks prospects Will Smith and Eric Pohlkamp were named to the preliminary roster of the U.S. National Team ahead of the IIHF World Junior Tournament later this month along with Sharks prospect Jake Furlong receiving an invitation to Team Canada's World Junior selection camp. Prior to this game, Ryan Carpenter became the latest addition to the Sharks injured reserve. 

In all, this now tops their most recent matchup against the Canucks at home on November 25 as the Sharks' biggest and best win of the season thus far. This rendition of Team Teal has become more exciting and competitive recently, and are looking and feeling more like an average team than a true bottom-feeder. Next up, San Jose travels to Detroit to face the Red Wings on Thursday at 4 pm PT.

Sources: San Jose Sharks PR, NHL App 

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