UPDATE: The San Jose Sharks suffered a crushing 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, December 23, 2023, ending their homestand on a disappointing note. Just minutes into the third period, the Sharks allowed two quick goals, handing the struggling Kraken a vital victory before a sellout crowd of 17,435 at SAP Center.
With the Sharks leading 2-1, disaster struck just 1:55 into the third period. A shot from Ryker Evans slipped past a screened Yaroslav Askarov, tying the game. Moments later, Ryan Lindgren netted his first goal of the season, pushing the Kraken ahead 3-2 at the 15:33 mark. The Sharks, unable to recover, missed a critical opportunity against a team that had secured only one win in its last eleven games and was languishing at the bottom of the Pacific Division.
The Sharks had previously fought back to tie the game in the second period. After allowing the first goal to Eeli Tolvanen at 6:52, they capitalized on a power play. Adam Gaudette scored his eighth goal of the season at 11:22, with assists from Macklin Celebrini and Igor Chernyshov.
Askarov, who faced 28 shots, made several key saves early on, including a critical stop against Kaapo Kakko when the Kraken were on a power play. Despite dominating parts of the second period, the Sharks failed to maintain their momentum.
This defeat marks the Sharks’ third loss in six games, leaving them with a 1-2-0 record on the homestand. Their next matchup is on the road against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, December 26, before traveling to face the Vancouver Canucks next Saturday.
Fans are left wondering how the team will rebound from this latest setback. With the holiday break approaching, the players must regroup quickly to regain their form and secure much-needed points in the standings.
