The Sharks earned it — the game and the expected-goals battle both.
The Sharks' 5-2 victory over the Blue Jackets masked a tight underlying game. Expected goals split 5.54–5.02 in San Jose's favor, shot attempts tied 36–36, and high-danger chances nearly evened out at 11–12. The Sharks didn't dominate—they executed better and got premium goaltending when it mattered.
A. Nedeljkovic was the difference-maker in net. He stopped 34 of 36 shots for a 0.944 save percentage, saving 3.02 goals above expected. On the 12 high-danger shots he faced, he stopped 11—a 92% rate on chances where opponents typically score. J. Greaves (CBJ) matched his counterpart's excellence in defeat, posting a 0.912 save percentage and saving 2.54 goals above expected, but one goal either way shifts the margins.
The Sharks proved clinical in the attacking zone. On 11 high-danger chances, they buried 5—a 46% conversion rate that punishes defenders and goaltenders alike. The team was lethal in transition, scoring 3 goals on 33 rush attempts. San Jose's secondary scoring depth showed: A. Wennberg logged 1 goal and 2 assists across 21:14, while M. Ferraro added 1 goal and 1 assist in 19:22.
Columbus couldn't capitalize on its opportunities. The team underperformed expected goals by 3.0, missing chances in an even-strength game. I. Provorov recorded an assist in 28:17, a bright spot for the defense, but couldn't prevent the gap from widening.
Nedeljkovic's performance—not San Jose's shot volume or possession—built the three-goal margin. High-danger chance rates suggested a tighter finish. The actual score told a story of goaltending excellence and Sharks' efficiency.
