In December, the Sharks gave up the tying or winning goal in the final three minutes of the third period four times. It happened most recently against the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 21, when the Sharks allowed a tying goal to Mattias Ekholm with 18 seconds left in regulation before losing 3-2 in overtime.

The only thing consistent about the San Jose Sharks in 2025 is their inconsistency. On New Year’s Eve, the San Jose Sharks offered “no desperation” in a 4-0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, their eighth-straight loss.

They didn’t get to six goals, but the Blue Jackets did move into the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference over the Boston Bruins by extending their season-high winning streak to six straight games Thursday at Nationwide Arena.

A strong first two periods helped the Blue Jackets survive a third-period push from the Sharks before van Riemsdyk found the empty net.

The Columbus Blue Jackets were about to embark on an extended road trip. They could have easily overlooked the San Jose Sharks. Thanks to a quick start and a good first two periods, the Blue Jackets avoided the trap game.