Sharks Takeaways: Chernyshov Stars As OT Heroics Come To The Rescue

The San Jose Sharks are 2-0-0 for the first time since the 2021-2022 season after they defeated the Los Angeles Kings 5-4 in overtime.

Igor Chernyshov scored twice, including the OT winner; Ivar Stenberg had one assist for his first NHL point; and Tyler Toffoli scored and added an assist. Yaroslav Askarov was once again brilliant despite letting in four, making 31 saves.

Here are three takeaways from the dramatic victory.

1. Chernyshov loves to shoot

Chernyshov may have only had two shots on goal for the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, but both went in. The young forward pleasantly got through his postgame interview despite the slight language barrier.

“I like to shoot,” Chernyshov said about the pass he received from Macklin Celebrini. “(Celebrini) did a lot. I mean, I think all our team did a lot in this game, and like that’s why we won.”

Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky praised the young forward for his development in certain areas over the summer.

“He can hold on to a puck. He’s obviously got good skating ability,” Warsofsky said. “He’s got size [and] hockey sense. I think he’s smart. He’s picking up the details of the game, so those are the biggest.”

Chernyshov also added an assist for a three-point night.

2. Toffoli shows up against former team

Tyler Toffoli had a throwback game with one goal and one assist. The veteran San Jose Sharks forward tapped in a great pass by Stenberg to tie the game at one.

“He’s a great player. He does everything on the ice. I think there’s a reason why he’s playing with [Alexander Wennberg] and playing against other teams’ top lines,” Toffoli said about Stenberg.

Toffoli has also now had back-to-back games with terrific stretch passes to his linemates. Tonight was to Chernyshov in the third period. Chernyshov buried the puck with a sweet backhand. Toffoli’s ability to see the ice and stretch the play with speedy linemates has come in handy through two games.

“Toff’s got some composure with the puck, and that’s what we like with those guys,” Warsofsky said. “He can help those young guys, especially in the defensive zone, understand where they need to be. Toff’s got some poise on the walls to make plays and understand what’s going on. He’s a veteran guy that’s been around a long time and seen winning hockey, and we’re trying to really press our group on that understanding.”

3. Bailed out of bad third periods

The San Jose Sharks could very well be 0-0-2 right now, but their skill has persevered. While the two wins are nice and deserve recognition, there’s always room to improve.

Warsofsky echoed that in his postgame, especially if this team has aspirations for late-springtime playoff hockey.

“We won the game, that’s good, but we gotta get going here,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said postgame. “We can put the puck in the net, but we’re trying to win a lot of hockey games and go do something in the spring. And you have to play a certain way, or you won’t. We can’t just rely on skill.”

The Sharks’ PK also struggled today, giving up two goals on three chances. While the Kings had spectacular plays on their two PPGs, Warsofsky noted there are preventable things they need to do to give themselves a better chance to stop those plays.

“One, we should change. We clear a puck, and then we don’t change to get fresh killers out there,” Warsofsky said. “We lose a low seam. There’s one goal, and then you know again the game within the game is 10 seconds left [in the second period]. We don’t need to run to the wall there and leave good ice and just hold the middle and let the clock run out. Some things we got to clean up in that area.”

Two wins are two wins, but as the team heads out for their first two road games of the season, closing out third periods with a hostile crowd will be a different story.