3 Takeaways From Sharks’ 5-4 Win Versus Kings

In the third period, Chernyshov showed off his unique offensive skill set where he utilized his size and deceptive speed to sneak past two Kings defensemen. As he crashed the net, he rifled the puck past Anton Forsberg with a wicked backhand to give the Sharks a 4-2 lead. 

San Jose’s youth showed significantly in this game, especially when they gave up a two-goal lead in the third period.

In overtime, the Kings hoarded the puck for most of the bonus period, consistently slowing the game down and retreating when they didn’t get a look they liked. Macklin Celebrini put a big hit on a dog-tired Quinton Byfield to steal the puck and create a fast break. As Celebrini entered the Kings’ zone, he dished it to Chernyshov, who flew in to crank a one-timer from the left circle to seal the game. 

Chernyshov has demonstrated repeatedly early in his career that he is confident with the puck on his stick and he isn’t afraid to make plays. That unbridled confidence is something some of the other young Sharks players will learn in time. He possesses an advanced understanding of how to use his physical gifts at the right moments. 

Defensively, he often uses his big body to win battles and keep control of the puck before swinging it out of trouble. He has an active stick on the back check and isn’t bad with his poke checks. Chernyshov is emerging as another problem opposing teams will have to deal with outside the obvious in Celebrini and Will Smith. 

Sharks Win But Were Outplayed 

The Sharks came out of the gate flat and never really took control for any sustained period of time. 

The Kings flexed their defensive muscle early, keeping the Sharks from playing fast and making it difficult for them to build any offensive momentum. Adrian Kempe scored a power-play goal at 15:50 in the first, leaving the Sharks looking disjointed as they headed to the second. 

Alex Laferriere was given a roughing penalty at the very end of the first, so San Jose started the second on the power play and cashed in quickly. Rookie Ivar Stenberg wired a crisp backdoor tap-in for Tyler Toffoli to even the score. After that, the Sharks briefly played even with the Kings as both teams traded chances, leading to goals by Kiefer Sherwood and defenseman Nolan Allan. 

San Jose kept even with Los Angeles until the end of the period when the Kings scored on the power play with less than two seconds left. In the waning seconds, Byfield toe-dragged past a lunging Collin Graf, who came inches from batting the puck away and preventing a goal, and picked the corner over Yaroslav Askarov’s shoulder to beat the buzzer. 

From then on, the Kings dominated the rest of the game. 

Third-Period Struggles

One of the most disturbing trends for the Sharks that cost them a playoff spot in 2025-26 was their tendency to crumble in the third period. 

San Jose was outshot 12-7 in the third, but it felt like a lot more. The Kings played downhill all period, but the Sharks were able to add to their goal total because of their superior talent that can flash in the blink of an eye. In the game, the Kings outshot the Sharks 35-25.

Last season, the Sharks’ lack of production on the blue line and lack of maturity sank them in third periods. While the group of defensemen this season is vastly improved, the youthful mistakes reared their ugly head again. 

The Sharks have playoff expectations now, which is unfamiliar territory. If they want to play May hockey this season, the third period disappearing act needs to end. This is a team that often outscored their problems last season. It worked for them against the Kings, but it won’t work over the course of a full season. 

The back-end and goalie play has been encouraging so far for the Sharks. The additions of Jacob Trouba, Michael Kesselring, and Darnell Nurse have been visibly positive two games in, as well as Luca Cagnoni, who earned a job on the blue line out of training camp. 

Celebrini still doesn’t have a goal, but he has recorded five assists, which include helpers on both overtime-winning goals for the Sharks so far. 

San Jose had a down game, but good teams find ways to win even when they don’t play their best. The Sharks showed they are a good team in their opener against the Panthers, and they will look to play more consistently starting with their next game on the road against the Dallas Stars on Monday night.