Megan: He was supposed to be out. The injury report had Macklin Celebrini listed as questionable, then doubtful, and finally, just absent from the lineup against Edmonton. But when the puck dropped at SAP Center on Saturday night, the Sharks’ new captain was back in the crease, and he didn’t waste a second to make his presence felt.
Steve: And yet, despite that spark, the Sharks found themselves down 3-1 by the final horn. It was a frustrating night for San Jose, especially after the momentum they built in that overtime win over St. Louis just days prior. We’re here to break down exactly where things went sideways.
Megan: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, I’m Megan Fitzpatrick, and joining me as always is our lead analyst, Steve Corcoran. Good evening, everyone. If you missed last night’s action, or if you’re still staring at your screen wondering how we lost to the Oilers, you are in the right place.
Steve: Evening, Megan. And hello to all the Sharks fans tuning in. Look, I know there’s some disappointment out there. We predicted a 3-2 regulation win for you guys. We thought Tyler Toffoli would have multiple points. And while Celebrini delivered, the rest of the package just wasn’t enough against Connor McDavid and company.
Megan: Right, and let’s not forget the prediction about Igor Chernyshov contributing significantly due to his speed. That didn’t quite materialize either. Tonight, we’re doing a full reaction breakdown. First, we’ll look at the offensive output, specifically Celebrini’s return and goal. Second, we’ll dive into the defensive breakdowns and goaltending issues. And third, we’ll preview the Boston Bruins coming to town on Tuesday.
Megan: Let’s start with the headline: Macklin Celebrini returns. He missed two games with a lower-body injury, and frankly, the Sharks looked disjointed without him. When he came back on Saturday, what did you see in terms of his game? Was it rusty, or was he ready to go?
Steve: I think he was ready. Physically, he looked sharp. He got his first goal of the season, which is huge for his confidence. But offensively, the team struggled to generate sustained pressure outside of his line. Michael Misa had an assist, which is good, but we didn’t see the secondary scoring we hoped for.
Megan: So, Celebrini and Misa were the leaders. One goal, one assist between them. But the Oilers scored three. How do you explain the lack of offense from the depth charts? We talked about Collin Graf and Brett Leason needing to step up after that loss to Dallas. Did they show up tonight?
Steve: They didn’t really. Graf is a physical presence, but he needs pucks to hit. Without sustained zone time, he’s just forechecking alone. Leason’s speed isn’t translating because the neutral-zone play was too slow. We couldn’t get through the middle effectively. Edmonton’s defense was tight, and our top six couldn’t crack it consistently.
Megan: It feels like a cycle. We talk about the need for grit, we talk about the need for speed, but then the power play—where we usually rely on those big bodies to set screens—doesn’t convert. Did the Sharks even get many opportunities on the man tonight?
Steve: Very few. That’s the problem. When you’re playing from behind, you need penalties to flip the script. But Edmonton’s penalty kill was disciplined. They blocked shots, they cleared the lane. Our power play unit, led by Celebrini, looked static. There wasn’t much movement off the dot.
Megan: Static. That’s a harsh word, but maybe accurate. Let’s pivot to the other side of the ice. The Oilers won 3-1. Mattias Ekholm had a goal and an assist. Evan Bouchard added assists. Connor McDavid had ten assists on the night. How did San Jose handle their top lines?
Steve: They didn’t. Honestly, they got burned. Ekholm is a defenseman who can jump the rush, and he did. Bouchard’s point production is relentless this year—he’s already got 13 points. Our neutral-zone trap wasn’t working. Every time we tried to dump and chase, they had the gap closed. It was frustrating to watch.
Megan: Okay, so the offense stalled, and the defense gave up easy rushes. Now we have to talk about the goalie. Yaroslav Askarov started. Usually, he’s been solid for us. What went wrong in this one? Was it him, or was it the traffic in front of him?
Steve: It’s a bit of both. Askarov made some saves, but the quality of chances allowed was high. When you give up three goals, especially in a low-scoring game like this, it’s often about positioning. He was beaten on the edges. And remember, with Jake Walman out and Kyle Keyser on IR, our defensive pairings are shuffled. Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba are trying to hold it together, but they’re getting exposed.
Megan: That injury list is becoming a nightmare. Alex Barre-Boulet, Quentin Musty, Cam Lund, Kyle Keyser—all on IR. Plus Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins out for Edmonton. It’s a mess for everyone. But for San Jose, losing Keyser means less depth in net if Askarov struggles. Do we worry about the backup situation?
Steve: We should worry about everything right now. The roster is thin. If Askarov goes down, who’s next? Alex Nedeljkovic? He’s experienced, but has he played much in this system? The coaching staff has to manage minutes carefully. You can’t burn the starter every night when you’re giving up chances like this.
Megan: So, special teams were bad, defense was leaky, and the goalie got beat on softies. Is there any silver lining here? Besides Celebrini scoring, obviously. Did anyone else have a positive performance? Maybe Dmitry Orlov holding down the blue line?
Steve: Orlov was decent. He moved the puck well in the defensive zone. But again, it’s hard to shine when the team is losing. I’d say Barclay Goodrow did his job in the corners, but he doesn’t score. At the end of the day, 3-2 wins don’t happen when you’re getting outworked in the neutral zone. We need to fix that transition game.
Megan: Alright, let’s look ahead. The Boston Bruins come to SAP Center on Tuesday, October 14th. Boston is tough. They’re physical, they’re structured. Given what we just saw against Edmonton, what does the Sharks’ game plan need to look like to steal a point or a win there?
Steve: First, stop turning the puck over. That’s it. Against Boston, you cannot afford giveaways in the neutral zone. Their counterattack is lethal. Second, Celebrini needs more help. Misa had one assist, but we need someone else to chip in. Maybe Tyler Toffoli steps up? We predicted he’d have multiple points earlier; maybe he bounces back here.
Megan: So, keep it simple. No turnovers, Celebrini leading the charge, and hope Toffoli wakes up. But Steve, the record is 3-2-0 now. Fourth in the Pacific. That’s not terrible, but it’s not dominant. Are you worried about the team’s trajectory?
Steve: I’m concerned about the consistency. Three wins in five games is fine early on, but the style of play has been inconsistent. Sometimes we play gritty, sometimes we play passive. Against Boston, we need to bring the grit. We need to use our size. If we play small against them, we’re going to get buried.
Megan: Gritty hockey. Got it. Before we wrap up, I want to take a quick moment to talk about this show. We work hard every single day to bring you these deep dives, the stats, the reactions, and yes, the predictions—even when we miss, like we did with Edmonton. If these daily breakdowns are part of your morning routine or your commute, a small tip via the link in the episode description is what keeps us free and coming to you. It truly helps us keep the engine running.
Steve: Thanks for listening, everyone. We’ll be back tomorrow with another recap. Keep supporting the Sharks, keep believing in Celebrini, and let’s hope Tuesday brings better luck than Saturday.
Megan: You heard him. Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen to podcasts. Share this episode with a fellow Shark fan. Go Sharks!