San Jose Sharks Stun Wild in Overtime Thriller as Collin Graf Leads Comeback Victory

The San Jose Sharks pulled off a dramatic comeback on Tuesday night, defeating the Minnesota Wild 2-1 in overtime at Grand Casino Arena.

Rookie forward Collin Graf was the hero as he scored in overtime to seal the Sharks' fourth consecutive win and their hot streak to 6-0-1 since late October.

Collin Graf's Game-Winning Goal Ignites Sharks' Momentum

San Jose Sharks Stun Wild in Overtime Thriller as Collin

Graf's overtime goal came on a flawless odd-man rush, with Macklin Celebrini leading the charge down the ice before sending a precise pass to Graf.

The rookie shifted from forehand to backhand and slid the puck past Filip Gustavsson for his second goal of the season, a perfect ending to a thrilling comeback that highlighted the Sharks' growing confidence and resilience.

Will Smith's Power Play Breakthrough Sparks the Rally

The Sharks came alive late in the third period when Will Smith tied the game at 1-1 on the power play at 11:57. On a diagonal pass across the ice by Tyler Toffoli, Celebrini returned it to Smith, who fired a shot through Gustavsson's pads for his seventh of the year. The clutch goal snapped San Jose's power play drought after going just 1-for-23 in its last eight games.

Smith has been hot of late, notching points in five consecutive contests with three goals and four assists. His work alongside Celebrini, who put up a pair of helpers against the Wild, has been one of the key cogs of San Jose's offense. He now has 26 points on the year, putting him near the top of the league scoring leaderboard.

Yaroslav Askarov Shines in Net

According to The Mercury News, goaltender Yaroslav Askarov was the difference in San Jose's win, turning aside 28 of 29 shots in an outstanding performance. Making a surprise start over Alex Nedeljkovic, Askarov stood tall as the Wild dominated early play, his only blemish a Matt Boldy power play goal in the second period.

Askarov's effort continues a run of elite goaltending that has keyed the Sharks' midseason resurgence. Over their first 10 games, San Jose managed an .857 save percentage and a 2-6-2 record. Through the last six games, that number has soared to .961 along with a 5-0-1 mark.

Sharks Eye Strong Finish to Road Trip

With the victory, the San Jose Sharks (8-6-3) extended their winning streak to a season-high since the opening of the 2021–22 season. Next, they travel to complete their road trip against the Calgary Flames on Thursday and the Seattle Kraken on Saturday.

If the Sharks can continue to mix great defense, clutch goaltending, and timely scoring, their recent surge could be the beginning of a remarkable turnaround in the Western Conference race.