SAN JOSE – Macklin Celebrini and Alexander Wennberg spearheaded a stirring Sharks comeback, but goalie Yaroslav Askarov struggled to keep the puck out of the net in a 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.
Wennberg scored an even-strength goal at the 4:48 mark of the third period, tying the game 3-3 and capping a Sharks comeback after they trailed by three goals in the second period.
But Askarov was unable to stop Kings’ defenseman Brandt Clarke, whose snap shot from 35 feet gave Los Angeles a 4-3 lead with 6:40 left in regulation time.
The Sharks outshot the Kings 41-14 but lost their fifth straight game of the season on home ice.
“The result stinks, but I thought we played really hard, did some really good things for our most complete game of the year,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said.
The Sharks created several scoring chances to start the second period but trailed 3-0 as both winger Jeff Malott and defenseman Drew Doughty scored even-strength goals, firing wrist shots past the left shoulder of Askarov. Malott’s goal came off a Kings odd-man rush at the 3:21 mark of the second period, and Doughty, with time in the Sharks’ zone, beat a screened Askarov at the 6:43 mark for his first goal of the season.
Los Angeles Kings’ Drew Doughty #8 celebrates his goal with Corey Perry, #10 Brian Dumoulin #2 and other teammates in the second period of their NHL game against the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Celebrini took a short behind the Kings’ net from Smith, came around the left side, and fired a pass between the legs of defenseman Mikey Anderson and past Malott’s right to Smith, who one-timed it past Los Angeles goalie Darcy Kuemper at the 15:33 mark.
Just 1:53 later, Alexander Wennberg, stationed next to the Kings’ net, took a pass from William Eklund and fired a pass across the crease to Philipp Kurashev, who scored his second of the season on a nearly wide-open net to cut Los Angeles’ lead to one.
“On the goal, great play by Eklund and Wennberg there, and just had to tap it in. It was a nice play,” Kurashev said.
With their points in the second period, Celebrini extended his point streak to five games and Eklund extended his to four games. Celebrini was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week on Monday for his performances during the Sharks’ four-game road trip, where he had five goals, including the overtime winner against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, and five assists.
San Jose Sharks’ Alexander Wennberg #21 scores a wrist shot goal past Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper #35 in the third period of their NHL game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
In the first period on Tuesday, the Sharks had just killed a tripping penalty to Timothy Liljegren when they fell behind 1-0.
Winger Collin Graf redirected a shot that was put toward the Sharks’ net by Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke. The puck hit the left post before it bounced off Askarov and landed next to the goal line, where Perry pounced on it and scored his third goal of the season at the 10:54 mark.
Askarov was making his third consecutive start Tuesday, as he stopped a combined 54 of 61 in the Sharks’ last two games, a 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Friday and a 6-5 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday. Askarov entered Tuesday’s game with a 1-3-1 record and a .855 save percentage.
The Sharks were carrying a nine-game losing streak at home into Tuesday. They went 0-5-0 at home to end last season and were 0-2-2 at the Shark Tank so far this season. They and the Kings were the only two teams left in the NHL not to win a game in their home arenas.
Los Angeles Kings’ Cody Ceci #5 and Drew Doughty, #8 along with teammates Anze Kopitar #11 and Trevor Moore, #12 celebrate their 4-3 NHL win over the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Collin Graf #51 and Los Angeles Kings’ Mikey Anderson #44 crash against the boards as the puck flies towards San Jose Sharks’ Jeff Skinner #53 and Los Angeles Kings’ Alex Turcotte #15 in the third period of their NHL game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Michael Misa #77 tries to score a goal past Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper #35 as Los Angeles Kings players converge on the goal in the third period of their NHL game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Alexander Wennberg #21 celebrates his wrist shot goal with teammates Michael Misa, #77 Philipp Kurashev, #96 Dmitry Orlov, #9 and Jeff Skinner #53 in the third period of their NHL game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Los Angeles Kings’ Quinton Byfield #55 trips over San Jose Sharks’ Tyler Toffoli #73 as they battle for the puck in the third period of their NHL game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Jeff Skinner #53 celebrates teammate Alexander Wennberg’s #21 wrist shot goal in the third period of their NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ John Klingberg #3 looks to pass the puck as Los Angeles Kings’ Trevor Moore #12 defends in the third period of their NHL game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Michael Misa #77 and Los Angeles Kings’ Joel Armia #40 battle for the puck in the third period of their NHL game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Sam Dickinson #6 battles for the puck with Los Angeles Kings’ Alex Turcotte #15 and Mikey Anderson #44 in the third period of their NHL game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Will Smith #2 scores a slap shot goal in the second period of their NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Will Smith, #2 celebrates his slap shot goal with teammates Macklin Celebrini #71 and Vincent Desharnais #5 in the second period of their NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Philipp Kurashev #96 celebrates his wrist shot goal with teammates Mario Ferraro, #38 William Eklund, #72 and Alexander Wennberg #21 in the second period of their NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Dmitry Orlov #9 and Los Angeles Kings’ Phillip Danault #24 battle for the puck in the second period of their NHL game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini #71 and Will Smith #2 move in on the puck as Los Angeles Kings’ Quinton Byfield #55 hits the ice in the second period of their NHL game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper #35 blocks a shot by San Jose Sharks’ Jeff Skinner #53 in the first period of their NHL game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini #71 battles for the puck with Los Angeles Kings’ Quinton Byfield #55 and Kevin Fiala #22 in the second period of their NHL game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Dmitry Orlov #9 and Macklin Celebrini #71 vie for the puck with Los Angeles Kings’ Phillip Danault #24 in the first period of their NHL game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Dmitry Orlov #9 battles for the puck in the first period of their NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
The San Jose Sharks are introduced before their NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Tyler Toffoli #73 on the ice in the first period of their NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
The San Jose Sharks and the Los Angeles Kings stand for the national anthem before their NHL game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
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Los Angeles Kings’ Cody Ceci #5 and Drew Doughty, #8 along with teammates Anze Kopitar #11 and Trevor Moore, #12 celebrate their 4-3 NHL win over the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)