{"id":543067,"date":"2026-04-06T02:11:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T02:11:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/543067\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T02:11:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T02:11:21","slug":"sharks-continue-playoff-push-with-visit-from-blackhawks-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/543067\/","title":{"rendered":"Sharks continue playoff push with visit from Blackhawks – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

The up-and-coming San Jose Sharks will shoot for a rebound performance to give their playoff hopes a boost when they play host to the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.<\/p>\n

The Sharks (36-32-7, 79 points) are coming off a disappointing setback with a 6-3 home loss to the Nashville Predators on Saturday that left them two points behind the Predators for the Western Conference\u2019s second wild-card position entering Monday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s never gonna be easy. It\u2019s not gonna be a straight road,\u201d veteran forward Alexander Wennberg said. \u201cYou learn from it. There\u2019s more opportunity to come and we\u2019re excited for the challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

San Jose, which is looking to snap a six-year drought of reaching the Stanley Cup playoffs, received a reminder of what is at stake at this point of the season.<\/p>\n

Against Nashville, the Sharks erased a three-goal deficit but surrendered a trio of unanswered goals in the final period and saw their winning streak snapped at four games.<\/p>\n

\u201cI liked our response in the second. That was probably the one big positive of the game,\u201d coach Ryan Warsofsky said.<\/p>\n

As they prepare for the fifth outing in a six-game homestand, the Sharks have seven games remaining in the regular season, one more than the other clubs fighting for the final playoff position. The collection of young players in their first playoff race is receiving important experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one here is hanging their heads. We\u2019re still in it,\u201d Wennberg said. \u201cWe\u2019re still looking forward. Learn and move on. There\u2019s a new game and a new challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Blackhawks (28-35-14, 70 points) have already been eliminated from playoff contention, but arrive in San Jose on the heels of a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday.<\/p>\n

The victory is a much-needed boost for the club that is above only the Vancouver Canucks in the league standings and went to Seattle on a five-game skid.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like it shows we can keep up with \u2014 I mean, Seattle\u2019s going for a playoff spot here, so we\u2019re right in the mix,\u201d defenseman Alex Vlasic said. \u201cI think when we\u2019re playing our best game, when we\u2019re playing smart with the puck, it\u2019s hard for teams to keep up with our speed.\u201d<\/p>\n

After they face the Sharks, the Blackhawks return home for their final four games of the season. The victory over the Kraken provides a template for the team to follow going forward.<\/p>\n

Chicago staked a 2-0 lead through the second period and then went toe-to-toe with a Seattle team that was frantically pushing for a comeback to keep its fleeting playoff hopes alive.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we defended good, all throughout the game,\u201d goalie Arvid Soderblom said. \u201cWe cracked down a little bit at the end, but overall, a solid defensive game from our side. And then we know we\u2019re a skilled team, so the goals are going to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another positive was seeing Sacha Boisvert, a 2024 first-round draft choice (18th overall), score his first NHL goal in his fifth outing, a third-period tally that held up as the game-winner.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it\u2019s my first NHL win as well, so that made it even better,\u201d said Boisvert, who joined the Blackhawks after finishing his season at Boston University.<\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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