Hockey can be an unforgiving sport. One miscue, a funny bounce, or even just a split-second hesitation, and the puck can end up in the back of your net. The goal is to stay even-keeled enough throughout the game so that you have a chance to win every night, no matter who your opponent is. That’s just what the San Jose Sharks did last night against a defensively difficult and skilled Los Angeles Kings. The Sharks beat the Kings 4-3 in the shootout to claim that extra point. While it wasn’t a perfect game, Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky took a moment to look at the positives.

“That’s a hell of a win against a really good hockey team. Do we need to get better in some areas? 100%. But so doesn’t every other team in this league. So, there’s some things we need to get better at,” said Warsofsky postgame. “The third period, I thought, was better than it was last game. I liked our mental toughness to keep playing. We did some better things again, like I said, from the other night. I thought we were more engaged. Our energy was good. We were skating. More connected. I liked our game tonight for the most part.”

That said, no one in the room is okay with settling for wins. They’re pushing for more than that, especially the leadership group. When asked about the third period, where the Sharks seemed to do a pretty good job of containing the Kings’ offensive rushes until the final minute of play, defenseman Mario Ferraro wasn’t buying it.

“I thought it was okay, to be honest. I gotta go back and watch … We did have some kills. Me, personally, I thought it was a little more sloppy on the kill in the third, just kind of running around a little bit,” said Ferraro. “I definitely think we sat back a little bit more today in the third. I think we’ve been better this year, but tonight was okay, so hopefully we can get some more momentum and get on our toes more in the third.”

And while he was happy with the win, he wasn’t happy with how the win came about.

“This is a big win. Big win. Obviously, would have been nice to get the two points without giving them one, but we battle. We kept battling,” said Ferraro.

Head Coach Warsofsky said that’s the kind of mindset he’s starting to see throughout the locker room.

“There’s a real care to win, which we haven’t had in a long time. And you can see it. I heard Mario just after the game, ‘We gave away a point.’ That says right there that we want to win, and that’s what we’re here for, and we have a real care for that. That’s important,” said Warsofsky.

The fourth line delivers

One of the reasons the Sharks were successful last night was the play of the fourth line. Zack Ostapchuk, Ryan Reaves and Barclay Goodrow were particularly effective against the Kings.

When you look at how the lines did last night, you notice that none of the lines dominated possession. The Kings controlled the puck through large swaths of the game, particularly in the third period when LA was pushing to tie things up. That said, of the lines, it was Ostapchuk’s line that was impactful at even-strength, delivering big hits and, as Warsofsky said postgame, swinging the momentum.

“We’re still a little immature at times, but I think our fourth line goes out there and gives us the momentum, and they understand what the identity looks like,” said Warsofsky. “So they’ve done a heck of a job this season. I know Delly’s [Ty Dellandrea’s] been on that line, but Ostapchuk’s come in and fit in really well. And, obviously, we’ve seen Reavo [Reaves] tonight was physical, putting pucks behind him. So I think that line really sets the tone on how we want to play.”

Reaves was credited with nine hits last night, while Ostapchuk was 57.14% in the faceoff circle. Goodrow had four hits of his own.

This is the second game in a row that the fourth line has been particularly effective for the Sharks. Against the Utah Mammoth, the fourth line was also the team’s best line.

A legendary night

One of the highlights of the night happened before the puck even dropped. The crowd was able to honor Joe Thornton for his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Thornton was there with his family and dropped the ceremonial puck. Of course, his adopted Shark Celebrini was there to take the faceoff, as well as the Kings’ Anze Kopitar.

There was something special about watching the two men embrace after all of their years battling with one another on the ice. This was Kopitar’s final visit to SAP Center. He has already announced that he will be hanging up his skates after this season. The 38-year-old center scored a goal in his final game in San Jose, his 16th at the Tank.

Anze Kopitar’s still got it! 💪 pic.twitter.com/qGAbnLJu9M

— NHL (@NHL) November 21, 2025

This is Kopitar’s 20th season in the NHL. The Sharks made sure there was a group of them there to give him a gift and honor his final visit to SAP Center.

While there are a lot of playoff memories involving Kopitar, I have to say there was never a particular reason I hated him other than the jersey that he wore.

Highlight

One quick stat before we get to the highlight. Yes, Yaroslav Askarov allowed three goals tonight, which is more than he’s allowed in his previous outings in November, but he was still very, very good for the Sharks. Askarov stopped 31 of the 34 shots that he faced, giving him a .912 save percentage. What’s more, his expected goals against was 3.29, which means that he was still a positive in the goals saved above expected.

Okay, to the highlight of the night. I’m giving it to Philipp Kurashev. I absolutely love the hands and the patience on this one.

Philipp Kurashev gives #TheFutureIsTeal a 3-2 lead!

Great pass by Smith, better patience by Kurashev pic.twitter.com/gdJBPk6n3y

— JD Young (@MyFryHole) November 21, 2025

Honorable mention to Will Smith for the work he did on the forecheck to get the puck and get it to Kurashev.

Scoring summary Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks Nov. 21, 2025

First period
2:33 SJS Adam Gaudette from Ty Dellandrea and Collin Graf
16:04 LAK Joel Armia shorthanded and unassisted
19:50 SJS Ty Dellandrea from Collin Graf and Dmitry Orlov

Second period
1:47 LAK Anze Kopitar from Trevor Moore and Cody Ceci
17:04 SJS Philipp Kurashev from Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini

Third period
19:01 LAK Adrian Kempe from Kevin Fiala and Anze Kopitar

Shootout
SJS Philipp Kurashev scored
LAK Trevor Moore shot saved by Yaroslav Askarov
SJS Macklin Celebrini shot saved by Anton Forsberg
LAK Adrian Kempe shot saved by Yaroslav Askarov
SJS Will Smith shot saved by Anton Forsberg
LAK Corey Perry shot saved by Yaroslav Askarov