Sharks current record: 18-50-8 (.289)
Sharks projected record: 19-54-9 (.288)
NHL record for worst season in 82-game history: 14-57-11 (.238)

The Sharks Sterility Stare checks in tonight after the San Jose Sharks’ 3-2 overtime win at home against the St. Louis Blues, because we were so shocked that the team won a game in the OT period. After once again blowing a third-period lead very late in regulation, we just assumed the Sharks would either lose quickly in the extra session or lose ridiculously in the OT shootout—both of which have happened so often this year.

With a record of just 10-3-6 when starting the final period with a lead, the Sharks inspire no fear in opponents who trail late in the game. Tonight, it was more of the same as San Jose started the third frame with a 2-0 lead and proceeded to blow it again. However, this time, local product Devin Cooley did not falter in the crease as the game went long: instead, it was the Sharks scoring pretty late in OT to earn a win.

We will take it: age-21 left wing William Eklund actually pulled off the hat trick by scoring twice in the second period and then delivering the game winner in overtime. Cooley erased the demons from last week’s brutal meltdown against the Chicago Blackhawks (remember?), and the week finished on a high note for the Sharks with bookend victories against the Blues—last Saturday on the road and tonight at home. Boom.

In between the team did lose at home to the Seattle Kraken and the Los Angeles Kings, but beating the Blues twice in a week is pretty sweet: with 5 games to play, St. Louis is 7 points out of the last Western Conference playoff berth, and losing twice to the Sharks may have cost the Blues a postseason slot. If a team can’t make it themselves, the best resolve they can show is to be a spoiler for another team, and that’s San Jose for now.

Meanwhile, the Sharks have 6 games left, and the goal could be to reach 20 wins—that would be fine for this team, all things considered. With 44 points in the standings, San Jose is “ahead” of Chicago by 7 points for the worst record and the best lottery chances for the top overall pick in the next draft. Eklund’s performance against the Blues, and Cooley’s bounce back (of sorts), are encouraging for the Sharks’ future.

One thing to note about this season for the team, too, is the scoring issues: not only does San Jose rank 31st in the league for scoring, but the Sharks are 4-38-2 when the opponent scores first. So it’s key for the team to get on the board sooner rather than later. This seems obvious, but it’s an emphasized trend this year for these Sharks, specifically—even with the aforementioned third-period issues. But it’s logical, too, for sure.

Score first, score early, and hang on for dear life. Tonight, it worked for the team, miraculously.