Successful teams in the NHL, obviously, need to win more than they lose. That’s how they climb up in the standings. However, it starts by limiting the losing streaks and that’s something the San Jose Sharks have figured out how to do early in this 2025-26 season. Other than that tough start that began with two tough losses that could have been wins if the puck had bounced just a little differently, the Sharks have figured out how to haul themselves up after a loss or two and right the ship. That’s just what the team did in Raleigh on Sunday when the Sharks beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 in regulation.

San Jose came out with jump in the first period and matched Carolina’s pace. While the skill level up and down the line up wasn’t on par with the Hurricanes, the compete level was, and so looking at Natural Stat Trick’s Game Flow chart in all situations, you can see that while Carolina maintained the upper hand in terms of possession in this game, through two periods, the Sharks hung with the Canes.

It certainly helped matters that San Jose struck first. Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky promoted Collin Graf after two very strong games from the winger. Graf instantly produced when playing alongside Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. Less than a minute into the game and Graf found the back of the net, giving the Sharks a nice cushion and the ability to play with the lead.

When leading in games, the Sharks have been more confident in their game and it certainly helped against the very strong Hurricanes lineup.

That confidence allowed the Sharks to settle into the team’s game, so that when the Hurricanes scored on the power play later in the period, it did not knock the Sharks off their stride. San Jose kept the momentum up in the second period and came out with the two lone goals of the second.

The Alex Nedeljkovic Show

In the third period, it was all up to Alex Nedeljkovic. As expected, the Hurricanes threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Sharks in the third period. San Jose was outshot, out worked and outplayed. The absolute best player on the ice that period was the player that had to be the best, Nedeljkovic. He faced 15 shots and 26 scoring chances in the third period alone and stopped all of them.

Nedeljkovic finished the night with a 2.28 goals saved above expected and so, fittingly, he received the shark tooth necklace.

It was also a much needed win for Nedeljkovic, who has been a bit snake normally. He hadn’t won a game in a month, since Nov. 7 against Winnipeg.

Game 100 for Macklin

This was the 100th game for Macklin Celebrini and for Sharks fans who have already been spoiled watching potential future Hall of Famer Patrick Marleau and recent Hall of Fame inductee Joe Thornton, the idea that Celebrini is potentially better than either of them is pretty amazing.

In 100 career games, Celebrini already has 106 points and 40 goals. For comparisons sake, Thornton had 48 points in his first two seasons in the NHL (136 career games), while Marleau had 48 points in his first 100 games.

Among active skaters in the NHL, only five other players have done it better.

That’s some pretty elite company for Celebrini.

Highlight

Our highlight of the game goes to Alex Wennberg, who scored a power play goal. The Sharks figured out that when you shoot the puck on the power play, good things happen.