The San Jose Sharks have opened the season with an 8-6-3 record, sitting at 4th in the Pacific Division. They have 19 points, tied with the Seattle Kraken, and carry a 7-2-1 record in their last ten games.
Team Teal has scored 55 goals and allowed 57, with the close margins demonstrating how competitive they have been. Driving their success to start this season are close games, overtime pushes, and late-period scoring.
A major part of the Sharks’ gameplay this season is how often they extend games. San Jose has four overtime wins, two overtime losses, and one shootout loss. The NHL defines games as “close” when the lead is one or fewer after two periods or the third is tied. The Sharks have two close-game wins and two close-game losses.
Below San Jose in the Pacific standings are the Vegas Golden Knights, the Vancouver Canucks, and the Calgary Flames. Results from bonus hockey have helped the Sharks stay in the middle of the pack. Above them are the Kraken (7-4-5, 19 points), Oilers (8-6-4, 20 points), and Kings (8-5-4, 20 points). The division-leading Ducks are at 11-4-1 with 23 points.
Anaheim’s jump also puts a spotlight on their team leader Leo Carlsson (11 goals, 15 assists). Carlsson’s early-season production is tied with Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard, who each have 26 points as well. With Carlsson, Celebrini, and Bedard sharing the Western Conference, this could be the start of the league’s next long-term rivalry. As the Ovechkin/Crosby era nears its end, a future Celebrini/Carlsson/Bedard rivalry could present a comparable storyline.
A huge defining trend for Team Teal has been their ability to either tie or win games late. On Nov. 7 in a 2-1 win over the Jets, Will Smith scored the tiebreaking goal at 15:39 in the third period. On Tuesday against Minnesota, Smith tied the game at 11:57, setting up Collin Graf’s eventual overtime winner. In their sole November loss, Sam Dickinson secured a point for the team at 16:55 against Detroit.
With improved defense, San Jose has held opponents to two or fewer goals in their last seven games. Their strengthened defensive structure has kept them in matchups and gave many forwards a chance to capitalize late.
A key blueline contributor is Dmitry Orlov, who has 11 assists in 17 games. Orlov’s 11 points tie him with William Eklund and Tyler Toffoli for third-most points on the team. Averaging 22:51 TOI, he’s been a steady, top‑pairing puck‑mover. Per Hockey‑Reference, Orlov starts 58.5% of his shifts in the defensive zone, and teammates post +2.8% Corsi and +1.8% Fenwick with him on ice.
Defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin also deserves recognition for his +6 and four assists. Mukhamadullin averages 16:11 TOI, with 14:44 at even strength, where he’s been trusted in third-pair depth minutes.
In forward highlights, Graf has emerged as an underrated producer. His OT winner against Minnesota highlighted his finishing ability. With four assists, two goals, and 14:49 TOI/G, Graf’s contributions offer secondary scoring support behind their top lines.
Celebrini continues to lead the Sharks’ offense with 10 goals and 16 assists. He is on a four-game point streak, matching San Jose’s four-game win streak, and his play-driving ability has been consistent.
The 19-year-old’s production puts him among the league’s top rookies in the number two spot for NHL stat leaders. Celebrini’s scoring pace is also impressive because compared to Bedard and Carlsson, he gets the fewest offensive-zone shifts. Per Hockey-Reference, Carlsson holds a 56.5 offensive zone start percentage, Bedard 55.7, and Celebrini 54.4. Despite Celebrini’s disadvantages in a poorer possessive team, worse Fenwick, and fewer O-zone starts, he continues to deliver.
Above Celebrini, Bedard, and Carlsson’s tied second spot is Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon with 32 points and 59.6 oZS percentage.
Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic was placed on non-roster IR on Thursday for personal reasons, per Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News.
Meanwhile, as of Nov. 5, center Michael Misa remains on IR with a lower-body injury and is regarded as week-to-week.
On November 10, 2025, “Jumbo” Joe Thornton was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. After 15 years with the Sharks, the center has become one of the most iconic players in Teal history.
The Sharks close out their three-game road trip with a second matchup against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday. San Jose last faced Seattle on November 5, winning 6–1.
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Featured image courtesy of San Jose Sharks on NHL.com
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