In Episode 192 of The Fin Factor, Paul and Aaron recap what they describe as one of the best weeks of San Jose Sharks hockey in years. After a “hellish” start to the season, the team showed surprising resilience, capped off by a historic comeback in New York.
The “Miracle” in New York: Sharks vs. Islanders
The highlight of the week was a 5-4 overtime victory against the New York Islanders, a game where the Sharks trailed 4-1 with less than 12 minutes remaining in the third period.
- Breaking the Schneid: Kevin Labanc started the rally with his first goal of the season, a tip-in on his teammate’s birthday.
- Hertl’s Hat Trick: Tomas Hertl fueled the comeback with a hat trick, including two dramatic goals in the final minutes of regulation with the goalie pulled.
- Eklund’s Vision: The hosts specifically praised the “brilliant” patience of William Eklund, whose playmaking ability and pass to set up Hertl’s tying goal were highlighted as cornerstone traits for the franchise’s future.
- The Overtime Winner: Mikael Granlund secured the win just 37 seconds into overtime after a “slap pass” fake by Fabian Zetterlund drew the Islanders’ defense out of position.
Gaining Respect Around the League
A major theme of the episode was how the Sharks are finally forcing opponents to take them seriously.
- Starting Goalies: The hosts noted that teams have stopped playing their third-stringers or backups exclusively against San Jose. For example, the Islanders started their star goaltender, Ilya Sorokin, against the Sharks.
- Competing with the Best: The road trip saw the Sharks face three of the top three teams in the league, including taking the top-ranked Vegas Golden Knights to a shootout.
- Trade Interest: Coach David Quinn noted that other General Managers are increasingly “kicking the tires” on Sharks players. This interest is driven by teams seeing veteran assets who could help a playoff run, rather than the Sharks actively trying to “deal” them away.
The Lottery Dilemma
Despite the excitement, the hosts remain conflicted about the team’s success.
- The 68 Point Line: Paul reiterated his desire for the team to stay under 68 points to ensure the best possible odds for a top draft pick, specifically generational prospect Macklin Celebrini.
- Tempering Expectations: Aaron cautioned fans that even being the worst team in the league only provides a roughly 25% chance at the first overall pick, urging viewers not to view the draft lottery as a “slam dunk”.
