The Sharks defeated the Golden Knights 6-5 in the exciting preseason finale

The San Jose Sharks ended the preseason with a thrilling 6-5 comeback victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, capped by an exhilarating last-second goal from forward Ethan Cardwell. With just 12 seconds left, Cardwell scored the winning goal after a pass from Nico Sturm, sealing the victory in dramatic fashion at the T-Mobile Arena.

A young Sharks lineup showed its resilience against a veteran-studded Vegas team. The attack was led by striker Danil Gushchin, who made a convincing case for a place in the squad with a remarkable performance of five assists. His play fueled the offense, including helping on all three of the Sharks' third-period goals.

In the back-and-forth contest, San Jose and Vegas traded goals in the first period, including goals from Jimmy Schuldt and Klim Kostin for the Sharks. However, Vegas took the lead and held it with a single goal in the second period.

A wild Saturday evening ensued in the third frame when Mario Ferraro started the fun just 35 seconds into the final period and equalized the score to 3-3. The Golden Knights responded and not only regained the lead, but extended it to 5-3. The Sharks refused to give in and fought back again. Gushchin continued his attacking performance and helped Kunin score two goals to equalize. And finally the fireworks ended with twelve seconds left as Cardwell put the Sharks back on top with a 6-5 win.

With the upcoming regular season opener on October 10th at the SAP Center against the St. Louis Blues, the Sharks' young talents are setting an example. Their energy and determination set the tone for an exciting season. Don't miss the home opener and a thrilling Saturday night showdown with the Anaheim Ducks in Los Tiburones' annual celebratory game. Get tickets today at sjsharks.com/tickets.

Summary of points:

SJS goals: Schuldt, Kostin, Ferraro, Kunin (2), Cardwell

VGK goals: Dorofeyev (3), Holtz, Stone

Goalkeeper:

SJS: Mackenzie Blackwood – 31 saves on 36 shots

VGK: Adin Hill – 23 saves on 29 shots