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NHL: Sharks' playoff plans take hit in shootout loss to Canucks

Macklin Celebrini reached 110 points on the season with a two-assist effort, but the San Jose Sharks dropped their home finale in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Vancouver ended a four-game skid behind a six-round shootout win.

FIELD LEVEL MEDIA/Reuters

April 12, 2026

NHL: Sharks' playoff plans take hit in shootout loss to Canucks

Apr 9, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) skates with the puck against the Anaheim Ducks in the second period at the Honda Center.

Kirby Lee/Imagn Images/Reuters

Macklin Celebrini tallied his 109th and 110th points of the season, but the San Jose Sharks couldn't win their home finale of the season, falling 4-3 to the Vancouver Canucks in a shootout on Saturday night.


Jake DeBrusk and Linus Karlsson found the back of the net for the Canucks in the shootout, which went to six rounds.


DeBrusk, Teddy Blueger and Marco Rossi scored in regulation, and Kevin Lankinen made 28 saves for the Canucks (23-48-8, 54 points), who had lost four straight games and nine of their last 10. Vancouver has been eliminated from playoff contention.


Igor Chernyshov scored twice, Celebrini had two assists and Yaroslav Askarov made 38 saves for the Sharks (37-34-8, 82 points), who have lost three straight. Saturday's loss keeps the Sharks five points behind the Los Angeles Kings, who are in the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference playoff standings.


Chernyshov put San Jose ahead 1-0 at 16:19 of the first period. Celebrini won a faceoff in Vancouver's zone and fell as he fed the puck to Chernyshov, who scored on a backhand shot in front of the net.


Rossi tied the game 1-1 at 5:56 of the second period. Askarov went to play the puck behind the net, then tried to adjust before Rossi's shot caught him out of position. The netminder pulled the net down on the puck, but officials called the goal good for Vancouver.


Tyler Toffoli gave the Sharks the 2-1 lead at 9:02. Sam Dickinson broke up the ice and set Toffoli up with a drop pass. The veteran center scored on a wrist shot.


DeBrusk tied the score back up 2-2 on a power play at 17:37. Askarov stopped a shot by Filip Hronek, and DeBrusk successfully scored on the rebound. San Jose challenged the goal for goaltender interference, but the call stood. It was DeBrusk's 20th goal of the season, and 17th on the man advantage.


Chernyshov's second goal of the night put the Sharks up 3-2 at 12:44 as Celebrini set him up for a wrist shot. Blueger tied the game 3-3 with 3:00 left in regulation with a wrist shot.


-Field Level Media/Reuters

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