San Jose Sharks Week Ahead: Schedule & Storylines – In the Hunt, Bouncing Back and More – The Hockey Writers – San Jose Sharks

Here is a look at the key storylines and upcoming schedule for the San Jose Sharks for the week of April 6-13, 2026.

A Legitimate Playoff Push

The biggest story right now is that the San Jose Sharks (currently 36-32-7) are in a heated battle for the final Western Conference wild-card spot. After missing the playoffs since 2018-19 and having the worst record in the NHL a couple of seasons ago, this is a massive turnaround. They are currently just two points behind the Nashville Predators and Los Angeles Kings for that final playoff berth.

Bouncing Back from a Crushing Loss

The Sharks recently rode a four-game winning streak but suffered a difficult 6-3 loss against Nashville on Saturday, April 4.

The team fought hard to erase a 3-0 deficit, tying the game 3-3 behind goals from Nick Leddy, Macklin Celebrini, and Alexander Wennberg, before giving up three unanswered goals in the third period. A major topic for this week is whether they can reset and stop the bleeding.

The Kids Are Alright

Macklin Celebrini continues to be a focal point of the offense, recently logging nine points in a three-game stretch before the Toronto Maple Leafs game and adding a clutch goal against Nashville. Key contributions are also coming from young forwards like Collin Graf and William Eklund, while goaltender Yaroslav Askarov is carrying a heavy workload in the crease.

Barracuda Clinch

In secondary organizational news, the Sharks’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, officially clinched a 2026 Calder Cup Playoff berth over the weekend, highlighting the strength of the franchise’s rebuild and prospect pool.

Sharks Upcoming Schedule

The next seven days are absolutely critical for the Sharks’ postseason hopes. They play five games in eight days, meaning fatigue and roster depth will be severely tested.

They start the week with a very winnable home game tonight against the struggling Chicago Blackhawks. However, the intensity ramps up quickly as they host the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, followed immediately by a back-to-back travel game against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. The week wraps up with a winnable home game against the Vancouver Canucks and a crucial, potential “four-point” road rematch against the Predators next Monday.

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