Alexander Wennberg has been a perfect fit since he joined the San Jose Sharks in 2024, and he\u2019s only gotten better.<\/p>\n
The Sharks centerman tied his career high in goals, 17, and still has nine games left this season to beat it. Although his impact on the scoresheet has been felt more in recent games, there are things he does that don\u2019t show up on the box score. Wennberg\u2019s net front ability is one of the best in the NHL, and he proved that again last night.<\/p>\n
When Macklin Celebrini<\/a> scored his 40th goal of the season to tie the game at 3, Wennberg made that happen. Celebrini also recognized Wennberg\u2019s screen of Anaheim Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal during his postgame interview.<\/p>\n \u201c[Wennberg] took the whole thing away, like the goalie couldn\u2019t see anything, and I had the whole side of the net,\u201d Celebrini said. \u201cThat\u2019s not going in if he\u2019s not in front.\u201d<\/p>\n Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky<\/a> has complimented Wennberg\u2019s ability in front of the net on more than one occasion this season. He continued that high praise on Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a really good net front guy. If you go back and watch our six-on-five goals, he\u2019s the reason why we score those goals,\u201d Warsofsky said. \u201cBecause he\u2019s right in front of the net. He\u2019s really good at it. He has a great feel for it. He\u2019s the reason that puck goes in.\u201d<\/p>\n Wennberg might not get a ton of deflection goals like former San Jose Sharks captain Joe Pavelski<\/a>, but he\u2019s creating the same impact.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like there was good poise, good patience. Try to get some shots, but after that, I mean, Mack comes in. Just trying to screen the goalie,\u201d Wennberg said. We\u2019ve talked about a lot; we\u2019ve got to shoot more. We got to get some goals, I mean, that\u2019s a pretty one, but it has to have someone in front of the net.\u201d<\/p>\n The San Jose Sharks forward isn\u2019t known for his goal-scoring either. Wenneberg has 86 shots in 72 games played this season. His 19.2 shooting percentage is the second-highest of his career, only behind his 2021 season<\/a> at 20.7%. That season was also the COVID-19-shortened year, and he only played 56 games.<\/p>\n Wennberg scored the eventual game-winning goal and was appropriately mobbed by his teammates, not realizing he tied his career high. But that play also isn\u2019t created without his puck possession ability. While getting hounded by Ducks defenseman Ian Moore, Wennberg was able to make a pass to Sam Dickinson<\/a> at the point. Then Wennberg goes into the high slot and snipes his 17th goal of the season.<\/p>\n \u201cCareer high, I wasn\u2019t really thinking about. I feel like the moment, just to get that win for the guys. I mean, obviously, 30 seconds left,\u201d Wennberg said. \u201cMacl is just jumping on me in the excitement. That\u2019s what it\u2019s supposed to be. This time of year, this is the kind of hockey we want to play. This is where we want to be, fighting for the playoffs.\u201d<\/p>\n The team is close, and it shows with Adam Gaudette\u2019s<\/a> postgame prank on Will Smith<\/a> for the postgame chain.<\/p>\n Wennberg and his line were also tasked with stopping Leo Carlsson. Warsofsky told reporters that not only did they shut him down, but they also created offense.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were good. Playing them against Leo Carlsson, who\u2019s one of the top up-and-coming centers of the game,\u201d the Sharks coach said. \u201cThere are some things that we continue to work on, especially offensively. We can probably get them to get in the middle of the ice a little bit more to get some chances, because they\u2019re playing the ozone. There are opportunities for us to get a little bit more attack and maybe generate a few more scoring chances for that line.\u201d<\/p>\n