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Sharks Edge Blackhawks 3-2 to Stay Within Two Points in Wild-Card Race

San Jose enters a compressed stretch that could settle its first playoff bid since 2019.

Overview

  • The Sharks, who won 3-2 Monday at SAP Center, remained two points behind Nashville and Los Angeles for the West’s final wild-card spot.
  • Chicago struck first through Ryan Donato, then San Jose answered with three straight from William Eklund, Kiefer Sherwood and Will Smith before Frank Nazar’s power-play goal set the final margin.
  • Alex Nedeljkovic started for San Jose and sealed the one-goal win as the Sharks controlled most of the 5-on-5 chances in the second and third periods.
  • Chicago’s five-forward power-play unit generated a flurry of looks and a Nazar tally, and coach Jeff Blashill said he would consider keeping that group next season.
  • The result opens a five-games-in-eight-days grind for San Jose, where regulation wins, a game in hand, and a tight tiebreaker with Nashville and Los Angeles could decide its postseason path.