The San Jose Sharks are going to have a hard time turning around their season if they continue to make too many mistakes in the defensive zone.
The Sharks peppered New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin with 29 shots in the first two periods on Tuesday night, but were their own worst enemy at times, especially in front of their own net, in a 4-3 loss at UBS Arena.
With the game tied 2-2, the Sharks were caught looking at the puck on a power play goal by Islanders forward Emil Heineman late in the first period and also on a second period goal at even strength by rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer.
A first-period goal by Islanders forward Casey Cizikas came off the stick of rookie defenseman Sam Dickinson, who lost control of the puck from behind the net and sent it right out front.
Macklin Celebrini cut the Islanders’ lead to one with his second goal of the season at the 10:16 mark of the third period, but the Sharks fell to 0-4-2 on the season and remained the NHL’s last winless team.
Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov made 23 saves in his third start of the season. Sorokin made 33 saves, including 14 in the first period.
Collin Graf and Adam Gaudette also scored for the Sharks, whose four-game road trip continues Thursday against the New York Rangers.
Michael Misa’s first point in the NHL came on Gaudette’s goal, which tied the game 2-2 at the 14:16 mark of the first period.
Defenseman Sam Dickinson kept the puck in the Islanders’ zone after a clearing attempt with his hand and sent the puck into the corner. Graf collected the puck behind the net and backhanded it out front to Misa, who sent it across the crease to Gaudette, who scored his second of the season on a mostly empty net.
The Islanders retook the lead just before the first intermission. With Dickinson serving a holding penalty, Askarov made a save on an Anders Lee redirection. But Lee, with time, put the puck back on net, where it sat near Askarov’s skate and the post before winger Emil Heineman came in and slapped it across the goal line for a 3-2 New York lead.
Bo Horvat also scored in the first for the Islanders, who had just eight shots in the first 20 minutes.
Askarov entered Tuesday with a 0-1-1 record and a .833 save percentage. Among the 55 goalies who have played at least two games this season, Askarov, per Money Puck, was 51st in goals saved above expected (-2.4).
Goaltending, poor puck management, and some shoddy play in their own zone left the Sharks tied for last in the NHL in goals allowed per game (5.00).
Askarov was playing opposite countryman Sorokin, who finished second in Vezina Trophy voting as the league’s top goalie and was an NHL All-Star in 2023.
The Sharks reunited Celebrini with wingers Tyler Toffoli and Will Smith, the so-called sleepover lines, for Tuesday’s game. The trio spent some time together last season, and, per Natural Stat Trick, had some modest success with 27 scoring chances created in just over 60 minutes of ice time during 5-on-5 play.
The Sharks were desperate for any scoring after managing just two even-strength goals in their last three games – all losses in regulation time.
“We know we can play better. We know we have in here,” Celebrini told reporters before the game. “We see it in video and see it in the game in real time. We know what we need to do. It’s just about executing.”
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Along with some increased goal production, the Sharks were looking for a better game from Askarov.
Tuesday’s game marked the first time the Sharks had faced Schaefer, the No. 1 overall selection in this year’s draft. The Sharks had a 25.5% chance of winning the NHL Draft Lottery in May after they finished with the league’s worst record in 2024-25. But the top pick went to the Islanders, who had just a 3.5% chance of winning the lottery.
The Sharks wound up with the No. 2 overall pick and selected Misa, another Ontario Hockey League star who was playing in his third NHL game. Schaefer had five points in five games, and Misa was looking for his first NHL point coming into the road trip.
“I’ve known him for a while now,” Misa said of Schaefer. “We’re pretty good friends, so it’s cool to see what he’s doing over there. I wish him nothing but the best in his career. He’s going to have a long one.”