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Referees try and separate Montreal Canadiens right winger Josh Anderson (middle left), center Phillip Denault (24) from left wing Kiefer Sherwood (middle right) in the third period Tue Mar 4, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Lincoln Juarez

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The Sharks picked up their 30th win of the year for the first time since the 2021-22 season. Kiefer Sherwood’s presence was felt on the ice and the score sheet, tallying five hits, an assist, and the game-winning goal(his first two points as a Shark). Macklin Celebrini scored his 30th goal of the season while earning three assists in a big four-point night that pushed the Sharks past the Canadiens, 7-5

A sea of red invaded the Shark Tank Tuesday night with reason to cheer early on as Oliver Kapanen wristed a shot that beat Yaroslav Askarov above the blocker to put the Canadiens ahead at 6:18 of the first period.

It took about 10 minutes for the Sharks to get their legs under them as San Jose’s first shot on goal came nine minutes and 34 seconds into the game. A grade-A scoring chance by Collin Graf from Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini was denied by Montreal netminder Jakub Dobes.

The Sharks’ first line kept applying the pressure resulting in Montreal’s Nick Suzuki being sent to the penalty box for interference. On the ensuing power-play, the Sharks only managed to get two pucks to the net in a scoreless man-advantage.

Yaroslav Askarov stood strong in the net while the Canadiens continued to attack, giving the Sharks a chance to tie the game. San Jose’s top line took advantage, on another great passing play where this time Graf found the back of the net.

Graf(16), from Smith and Celebrini at 15:32 of the first to even the score.

Play picked up in the second period from both sides with the score still tied at one. The fast pace brought chances in both ends, testing the goaltenders who both held their ground through the first five minutes. However, the Sharks got caught chasing the puck which broke down their defensive structure. A shot from the point was tipped through traffic by Phillip Danault and snuck by Askarov to give the Canadiens their lead back.

That wound up as the last Montreal goal of the period as Yaroslav Askarov made a few spectacular cross-crease saves to rob the Canadiens of any more. Five minutes and 19 seconds later, the Sharks finally had an answer. Michael Misa darted for a loose puck in front of the net and beat goaltender Jakub Dobes on his glove side. It was Misa’s third goal in as many games, Eklund and Toffoli tallied the assists.

With time winding down in the second period, a bouncing puck along the boards was tipped to Macklin Celebrini by Collin Graf. Macklin made a sweet toe-drag move past two Montreal defenders and rushed up the wing firing a wicked wrister through the pads of Dobes to put the Sharks ahead. The SAP Center crowd erupted for Celebrini’s 30th goal of the season, his first 30-goal campaign in year two of his career.

Riding that momentum just 25 seconds later, Kiefer Sherwood won a battle for the puck on the forecheck and fed a pass to the front of the net where Alex Wennberg roofed one to put the Sharks ahead by two. Sherwood’s first point as a Shark was just the beginning of what turned out to be a Kiefer Sherwood style game that he was right in the middle of.

Physicality ruled the third period which saw the Sharks obtain a three-goal lead just for it to vanish. Will Smith was the recipient of a Macklin Celebrini shot pass that he tapped in for a power-play goal, the first of two for the team teal.

Not even two minutes later, Ivan Demidov netted his 13th of the year and 18 seconds after that Alex Newhook found the back of the net to make it a one goal game, 5-4.

Montreal’s third goal in under six minutes came from Newhook again, as the Canadiens rallied all the way back to tie the game at five.

Scrum after scrum didn’t result in any late-game penalties, although a too many men call against the Habs put San Jose on their third power play of the night. It felt like a 3-on-3 overtime period in a playoff game with how many high percentage chances, odd man rushes, and scrambles around the net there were in the third, and this power play was no different.

A loose puck found Philipp Kurashev in front of the net with the whole arena thinking he was going to shoot. Instead, he passed through flying bodies to Kiefer Sherwood who banked it into a wide open net for his first goal as a Shark and the game-winner.

There never seemed to be a doubt in anyone’s mind in the building that the Sharks would come out on top, it was only a matter of time. It seemed as though general manager Mike Grier brought Sherwood in just for games like this… one of the most physical, back and forth matches of the season.

Adam Gaudette, who was also in the mix of a few scrums, capped off the night with an empty netter adding a third line contributing to the Sharks scoring. After a five game skid, the Sharks have bounced back with three thrilling wins in a row to set them three points behind the Seattle Kraken for the last Wild Card spot in the West.

Game five of the six game homestand takes place Friday night at SAP Center with a 7pm puck drop against the St. Louis Blues.