UPDATE: In a thrilling showdown at T-Mobile Arena on November 25, 2023, the San Jose Sharks faced a tough defeat against the Vegas Golden Knights, losing 4-3 despite impressive milestone performances from Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini.
Smith marked his 100th NHL game with two goals, while Celebrini celebrated his career milestone of 100 points. However, the Sharks allowed four consecutive goals, putting them at a disadvantage they could not recover from.
Smith opened the scoring just 7:34 into the first period, giving the Sharks an early lead. But the Golden Knights responded fiercely, with Tomas Hertl scoring two goals, followed by strikes from Colton Sissons and Mitch Marner, establishing a commanding 4-1 lead.
Smith’s second goal, assisted by Celebrini at 14:40 in the second period, cut the deficit to 4-2. William Eklund added a late goal with just 25 seconds left in the second period, bringing the score to 4-3. Nevertheless, the Sharks could not find an equalizer in the final period.
Sharks’ goalie Alex Nedeljkovic struggled initially, allowing four goals on just 19 shots through two periods, though he improved as the game progressed. The Sharks wrapped up a strong November with a record of 9-5-1.
“We haven’t forgotten the first game,” said Coach Graf before the game, referencing their earlier loss to the Golden Knights on October 9, where a pair of mistakes by Nedeljkovic led to an overtime defeat.
Despite the loss, both Smith and Celebrini made history. Smith’s 69 points in his first 100 games rank fourth in Sharks history, trailing Celebrini, who achieved 100 points in just 96 games. Celebrini’s accomplishment makes him the fastest player in Sharks history to reach this milestone, surpassing previous records set by notable players like Pat Falloon and Sandis Ozolinsh.
The Sharks entered this matchup tied with the Utah Mammoth for the second and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, both with 27 points. A victory would have propelled them into a tie for second place in the Pacific Division.
As the Sharks regroup, they will aim to bounce back in their upcoming games. Fans and players alike will be watching closely to see how this team responds to the challenges ahead after such a close and emotional match.
