San Jose, California – In an exciting game Thursday, Will Smith made his mark in the NHL by scoring his first two career goals, leading the San Jose Sharks to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
The win marks the Sharks’ third consecutive victory after a rough start that saw them unable to secure a win in their initial nine games. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks have struggled recently, losing five of their last six matches.
Smith, who was selected fourth overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, displayed his skill by netting the winning goal during a power play in the second period, firing a wrist shot that hit the crossbar before going in.
The game started with excitement as Ryan Donato and Tyler Bertuzzi of Chicago scored within just 50 seconds of each other in the first period, giving the Blackhawks a 2-1 advantage. Connor Murphy played a crucial role by assisting both goals. Notably, Donato’s goal came just 37 seconds after Smith had opened the scoring for the Sharks.
However, the Sharks did not take long to respond, with Alexander Wennberg equalizing early in the second period.
Both goaltenders, Mackenzie Blackwood for San Jose and Petr Mrazek for Chicago, each tallied 26 saves, but Blackwood was awarded the win for his performance.
Takeaways from the game include Donato’s emerging reputation as a leader on the team, as he scored his sixth goal, marking his fourth in just three games. For the Sharks, this victory is notable since they only managed one three-game winning streak all last season, which contributed to their status as the worst team in the league.
A pivotal moment in the match was when Blackwood and the Sharks executed an effective defense against a late Blackhawks attempt that featured a 6-on-4 advantage when Chicago pulled their goalie. An additional penalty by Fabian Zetterlund with 1:19 remaining tested San Jose’s resolve but they managed to hold the lead.
A significant statistic from the match is that Smith has now become the youngest American-born player to score for the Sharks at just 19 years old. He had faced a challenging start to his NHL career, remaining scoreless through his first eight games before breaking through with a pair of goals.
Looking ahead, the Blackhawks will travel to face the Kings on Saturday while the Sharks will host the Canucks on the same day.