SAN JOSE, Calif. — In an exciting matchup on Thursday night, the San Jose Sharks secured a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, with undrafted rookie Collin Graf playing a pivotal role by scoring twice. Additionally, Will Smith contributed significantly with a goal and an assist. Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev was solid in the net for San Jose, saving 24 shots. Tyler Toffoli added an empty-netter to seal the Sharks’ win.
The Sharks got off to a quick start when Smith found the back of the net with a one-timer just 3:48 into the game, thanks to a precise setup by Macklin Celebrini. Smith, who at just 19 years old has already amassed seven goals and 12 assists, continued his impressive play with this performance.
For Chicago, Frank Nazar and Ilya Mikheyev each managed to score, though it wasn’t enough to overcome the Sharks’ defense. Spencer Knight, the Blackhawks’ goaltender, faced 21 shots throughout the game.
In a notable moment, Connor Bedard, Chicago’s top scorer with 61 points this season, received a 10-minute misconduct penalty midway through the third period, impacting the team’s ability to rally.
One of the game’s highlights came when Graf, assisted by Alexander Wennberg, executed a perfect one-timer to increase San Jose’s lead to 2-0 in the first period. Later, Graf further extended the Sharks’ advantage by redirecting a shot from Smith, putting San Jose ahead 3-1 with just under ten minutes left in the second.
As a takeaway, the Blackhawks have been struggling lately, dropping three consecutive games and conceding at least three goals in each of their last five encounters. Meanwhile, the Sharks are benefiting from the youthful energy of their roster, particularly players like Celebrini and Smith. This season, San Jose leads the NHL with 146 points contributed by players 22 years old and under.
An intriguing subplot of the game was the faceoff between two young stars: 18-year-old Celebrini directly facing off against 19-year-old Bedard, showcasing the future of NHL talent.
Statistically, the game featured two teams battling at the bottom of the NHL standings, with Chicago having 49 points and San Jose 43. In context, the Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets share 94 points each, highlighting the gap between these teams and the league’s frontrunners.
Looking ahead, both teams are scheduled to play again this Saturday. The Blackhawks will visit the Vancouver Canucks, while the Sharks are set to host the New York Islanders.
