![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2-Mikkola-11.9.25-1.gif\")
<\/p>\nIt\u2019s been a long time since I\u2019ve seen Mario Ferraro smile this much post-game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m trying to keep it cool, right?\u201d the long-time San Jose Sharks defenseman said, after a 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers. \u201cObviously, I\u2019m excited about what I see right now. I really want to push for playoffs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Playoffs?!<\/p>\n
That\u2019s not a word that\u2019s been said in San Jose in November in a long time.<\/p>\n
Of course, we\u2019re just 16 games into the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a long season,\u201d the alternate captain said. \u201cPersonally, from a team standpoint, we know we still got work to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
But who could blame the San Jose Sharks lifer, part of six straight seasons out of the playoffs, if he\u2019s excited? 7-6-3, it\u2019s the first time that the perennial cellar-dwellers have been over .500 since they were 28-27-8 on March 22, 2022.<\/p>\n
But while the Sharks were able to topple the defending champs, in truth, the Panthers dominated. After the first period, Florida outshot San Jose 33-9. It took Yaroslav Askarov making 38 saves for the Sharks to pull off the upset.<\/p>\n
If San Jose is serious about the post-season dance, they\u2019ll need to get better in this department.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatching these guys quite a bit, playoffs and whatnot, the D [are on] the walls,\u201d head coach Ryan Warsofsky said about the Panthers, before the game. \u201cIt\u2019s extremely hard in the offensive zone [to advance the puck]. We can\u2019t get surprised by pressure. They\u2019re going to come. We got to make sure we win the walls, where we have good support in that area.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a heaviness to the Panthers\u2019 game that the Sharks are still lacking.<\/p>\n
Florida blueliner Jeff Petry alluded to it, saying of San Jose, \u201cThey have skill up front, and they play a fast game. There\u2019s other teams, they have that skill and speed, but they play a heavier game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s an example of 6-foot-6 defenseman Niko Mikkola imposing his physical will on the Sharks.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Will Smith (2), after a Dmitry Orlov (9) pass, can\u2019t get the puck through Mikkola. Then, the big defenseman skates through him.<\/p>\n
Ideally?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to start our battles up higher in the defensive zone. We\u2019re getting shrunk down quickly, instead of setting our battles up higher inside the blueline,\u201d Warsofsky said. \u201cThat\u2019s something that we\u2019ll continue to work on, fighting that panic. We have probably a little bit more time to make a play at times.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Sharks may have won this game, but winning habits are still a work in progress.<\/p>\n
Macklin Celebrini<\/p>\n
Celebrini, on his goal:<\/p>\n
It was a great play. Vinny, getting the puck out at the end of the PK there and Smitty on the forecheck.<\/p>\n
Celebrini, on the Florida Panthers\u2019 physicality:<\/p>\n
They were pretty physical. They play hard, what you see from a team that knows how to win. I thought we handled it good.<\/p>\n
Mario Ferraro<\/p>\n
Ferraro, on the last time that the San Jose Sharks were over .500 in Mar. 2022:<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a long season. Personally, from a team standpoint, we know we still got work to do. I\u2019m trying to keep it cool, right? Obviously, I\u2019m excited about what I see right now. I really want to push for playoffs. We all do. It\u2019s a long season and we got a lot more wins to get.<\/p>\n
Yaroslav Askarov<\/p>\n
Askarov said the 1st goal or the empty-netter was the loudest that he’s ever heard SAP Center. <\/p>\n
Says that the team can feel more excitement around their home games: https:\/\/t.co\/4Ph71ahVVS<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cSharks fans\u2026 I CAN HEAR YOU!\u201d \ud83d\ude02<\/p>\n Askarov is a riot, what a game! #SJSharks<\/a> #TheFutureIsTeal<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ozCCIXTEXu<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SnipeCity420 \uea00 (@SnipeCity420) November 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Ryan Warsofsky<\/p>\n Warsofsky: “You can judge, you can measure a guy’s height, you can measure his weight, but you can’t measure heart. And I can tell you right now, we played with some heart tonight.”<\/p>\n