Editor's note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
Even the best teams aren’t at their best every night.
But good teams — playoff teams — manage, even when they’re struggling, to dig deep and get points.
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The San Jose Sharks aren’t that, as they showed in a 2-1 loss to Utah Hockey Club on Friday.
More than any moment, the time to dig deep wasn’t just the Barrett Hayton game-winner with just 1:32 left.
Barrett Hayton scores in the final two minutes on route to a @utahhockeyclub victory! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ZtRToZylpP
— NHL (@NHL) January 11, 2025
It was just as much the shift before, when the Sharks lost focus, and allowed Liam O’Brien to creep down and have back-to-back stuff chances all by himself. Alexander Georgiev, who stopped 23-of-25 shots, bailed out San Jose.
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Tied game, two minutes left, you can’t forget O’Brien like that in front of your goalie. It looks like Macklin Celebrini (71) got caught puck-watching a covered Lawson Crouse (67) on the wall, leaving Henry Thrun (3) 2-on-1 down low with Nick Bjugstad (17) and O’Brien (38).