Macklin Celebrini, Michael Misa, and Yaroslav Askarov were understandably terse after a hard-fought 2-1 OT loss to the New York Islanders.<\/p>\n
While the San Jose Sharks got a point in a meaningful game, and against a playoff team in the Islanders, they were also clearly frustrated by the officiating.<\/p>\n
There were questionable calls and non-calls, like Mathew Barzal running into Celebrini\u2019s head and Kiefer Sherwood getting the only penalty for going after Barzal, for example.<\/p>\n
But after the game, head coach Ryan Warsofsky took an honestly refreshing big picture view of the game and the rest of the San Jose Sharks\u2019 season.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not about the officials, it\u2019s not about the Islanders, it\u2019s about the Sharks.<\/p>\n
San Jose, one point behind the Seattle Kraken for the last wild card berth in the West, are playing meaningful games in March for the first time since 2019.<\/p>\n
Youngsters like Celebrini, Misa, Askarov, and company are getting their first taste of NHL playoff-like hockey.<\/p>\n
That includes extra physicality and cheapshots.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we\u2019re going to play in the playoffs, that\u2019s what it\u2019s gonna be like. We\u2019ve got to get comfortable. We got to get comfortable being a little uncomfortable at times,\u201d Warsofsky said. \u201cThat\u2019s what the game is.\u201d<\/p>\n
It doesn\u2019t mean just taking it \u2014 Sherwood gave Barzal a piece of his mind \u2014 but it means overcoming it.<\/p>\n
Askarov is a good example of this. After surrendering a first period Tony DeAngelo goal that he\u2019d probably want back, the 23-year-old netminder hunkered down, stopping 32-of-34 shots, to get his team into overtime.<\/p>\n
Make it to the playoffs or not, this home stretch is going to be invaluable experience for the young Sharks, even a frustrating loss like tonight.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to learn from it,\u201d Warsofsky said. \u201cThese are great experiences, and sometimes, you get a lot of experiences through failure, and you get to learn through those experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also understandable for players to be mad in the moment, and they should be. But hopefully, the players are also, paradoxically, having the time of their lives, which will probably help them perform better under pressure, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnjoy it and have fun. I know this is a business, and I get it, but we\u2019re playing a game that we all love, we\u2019re in a position that probably no one in the world thought we would be in,\u201d Warsofsky said of the San Jose Sharks\u2019 upcoming final 21 regular season games. \u201cThat is a fact. And we\u2019re going to enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n
And hopefully, along the way, they find a team, a playoff team.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a point, got a big game [at] Buffalo on Tuesday,\u201d Warsofsky said. \u201cLet\u2019s go on the road as a group. It\u2019s us really against the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Macklin Celebrini<\/p>\n
An unhappy Celebrini didn’t want to talk about the officiating or the Barzal hit post-game<\/p>\n
\u2014 Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Warsofsky, on this Will Smith pass: “That’s what he does\u2026That’s why he’s so elite & so skilled. Sees the ice extremely well & he can make those plays.”<\/p>\n Celebrini: “It’s really hard [to make]. He’s the 4th-overall pick for a reason, special player.” https:\/\/t.co\/LTy0qyjDBR<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Ryan Warsofsky<\/p>\n This is a great Warsofsky quote, about how #SJSharks<\/a> should approach the stretch run & their first meaningful games in March since 2019:<\/p>\n “Enjoy it and have fun. I know this is a business, and I get it, but we’re playing a game that we all love, we’re in a position that probably\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Yaroslav Askarov<\/p>\n Askarov, on facing Ilya Sorokin:<\/p>\n He\u2019s one of my favorite goalies and always fun to play against him.<\/p>\n Michael Misa<\/p>\n Misa, on how often he keeps in touch with good friend Matthew Schaefer:<\/p>\n Yeah, every couple weeks maybe. Try to keep in touch with the guy. We both went through the process together and Patrick Roy<\/p>\n #SJSharks<\/a> fans in the Tank tonight, Patrick Roy just paid you guys the ultimate compliment:<\/p>\n “The last two times we came here, the crowd was not as much into it, but I thought tonight was the old Sharks’ atmosphere when I was playing. The fans were in it. They were letting the\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
became a good friend of mine over the years. He\u2019s obviously killing it over there.<\/p>\n