This Sunday Surmising column faces some interesting facts, begging the question: Are the San Jose Sharks back from the abyss?! We hate to use the cliché, “Stop the presses!”—but it may be appropriate. The team has won three games in a row to push its overall record to 7-6-3 … the first time San Jose has been over .500 in the regular season since March 26, 2022, when it was 29-28-8 before finishing 32-37-13 that season. Doh!

In winning five of their last six now, the Sharks have played much better on defense, giving up just three goals total in their current win streak and not allowing more than three goals in a single game since a 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on October 28. San Jose is still just 25th overall in the NHL for goals allowed (55), but the offense has come alive, too, now as the Sharks have scored 53 goals, the seventh best, overall.

So, as we said … Stop the presses!

Considering how bad the San Jose organization has been the last few years, and how rough the season started off this year, it’s incredible to see this kind of data right now. We have been too quick to throw the coaching staff under the bus, perhaps, as now the fruits of its labor are apparent: this team can play with anyone, as demonstrated by the Sharks’ 3-1 win last night over the two-time defending Cup champions.

Florida had been working on a 12-game winning streak against San Jose, too, and even though the Panthers started their backup goaltender on Saturday evening at the SAP Center, a victory over the champs is still a victory over the champs. And the Sharks held a third-period lead, too, going into the final frame up by a goal and actually extending the lead. Something is different now with this team, and it’s clear on the sheet.

For example, San Jose forward Macklin Celebrini tops the NHL in scoring right now with 24 points; that in itself is shocking, even if we knew he had the talent to do so. But hockey is often about team quality, and a top player needs good teammates who can convert the passes he makes, etc. The fact Celebrini is sixth overall in assists (14) says a lot about how his teammates around him have caught up to his level of play.

The goaltending must next follow suit: through 16 starts this year, the San Jose netminding duo of Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic have combined for just eight quality starts (defined here)—four each. The defensemen and the goalies need to keep improving for the Sharks to have a shot at the postseason, which is crazy think, but right now? They’re just one point out of the final playoff slot in the Western Conference.

Yeah, it’s only November 9, but dreaming is free; ask Blondie.