Do You Believe In Miracles: The San Jose Sharks Have Won An Actual Hockey Game
Jamie Sabau. Getty Images.The best thing about hitting rock bottom is that there's only one way to go from there--up.
Last year was rock bottom for the San Jose Sharks. They started off the 2023-24 season with an 0-10-1 record. They didn't pick up a win until November 4th of that year. Winless through their first 11 games of the season, which was tied for the 2nd worst winless streak to start a season ever. We're talking about a glorified ECHL team here, folks.
But big things were on the horizon for the Sharks. They brought in Macklin Celebrini with the 1st overall pick in the 2024 Draft. They signed Will Smith to his ELC and had him leave Boston College after his freshman season. Where did we say was the only direction you could go after hitting rock bottom?
So instead of going winless through their first 11 games of the season this year, the San Jose Sharks went out and put one in the win column before the end of October. After an 0-7-2 start to the season, do you believe in Miracles?
Because it was a Miracle in Utah last night, baby! You'll never forget exactly where you were on October 28, 2024 when the Sharks won their first game of the season. You'll be telling your grandchildren about that Wennberg goal one day. I'm sure Disney is already working on acquiring the rights to make a movie.
Maybe next year they'll pick up their first win 7 games into the season. The year after that, game #5 is when they can finally lock up a dub. Before you know it, the Sharks will be year 8 into Macklin Celebrini's career and they'll win their season opener. That's what we call mission complete.
If we're being honest, though, last night's win was pretty miraculous. The game was 4-1 Utah with 5 minutes to play in the 3rd period. It was desperation time for the Sharks, so they pulled the goalie with 5 minutes to go. A move that would make even Patrick Roy blush. And with 4:32 left in regulation, Fabian Zetterlund scored his 2nd goal of the night.
Less than 30 seconds later, Mikael Granlund made it a 1-goal game.
Almost the exact same play. Win an offensive zone faceoff, put pucks on net, good things happen. Easy game.
And then with just under 3 minutes to go, Tyler Toffoli tied it up after another offensive zone faceoff won in the right circle, a puck sent towards the net, and Tyler Toffoli finds himself at the right place at the right time to get this bounce.
Brutal 3rd period faceoffs for Utah. Hate to see it.
Out of all the moves the San Jose Sharks will make during this rebuild, I think signing Tyler Toffoli is right up there at the top. He's a Stanley Cup Champion, and he seems to make an immediate impact on every team he signs with. He's the type of guy you want to bring into the locker room if your goal is to suck a ridiculous amount of ass for a few years, because at least he has winning in his DNA. You can't have Macklin Celebrini losing 50-60 games every year for the first 4 years of his career and expect him to figure out how to win on his own. You need guys like Toffoli to teach him along the way.
So do you believe in Miracles? Because I sure as heck do.