The San Jose Sharks delivered an emphatic response to their previous defeat, skating past the Columbus Blue Jackets with a 5-2 victory at SAP Center on January 6, 2026. This win, their fourth in five games, showcased a blend of veteran leadership, breakout performances, and a bit of old-fashioned grit—a recipe that has Sharks fans buzzing as the season heats up.
All eyes were on Alex Wennberg, who faced his former team just two days after signing a lucrative three-year, $18 million contract extension with San Jose. Wennberg didn’t disappoint. The 31-year-old center notched a goal and two assists, factoring into three of the Sharks’ tallies and moving within two points of the 400-point milestone for his career. "It's all about the team," Wennberg said after the game. "I'm just happy to find a way to win this game." His performance against Columbus, the team that drafted him in the first round back in 2013, surely felt extra sweet.
Pavol Regenda was another standout, continuing a remarkable run of form. The Slovak winger, who had bounced between the AHL and NHL earlier in the season, scored his sixth goal in just five NHL games this year. Regenda’s marker came with just 49 seconds remaining in the first period, the result of a slick cross-ice feed from Wennberg during a 2-on-1 break. Regenda beat Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves high to the glove side, capping a period in which San Jose weathered an early push from Columbus and set the tone for the rest of the night.
Wennberg extended the Sharks’ lead to 2-0 early in the second period, capitalizing on a power play at the 4:14 mark. He fired a shot right between Greaves’ pads, notching his eighth goal of the season and his seventh multi-point game. The Sharks’ power play, which has been inconsistent at times this year, looked sharp on this occasion, thanks in large part to Wennberg’s poise and vision.
Columbus, however, refused to fold. Zach Werenski, the Blue Jackets’ leading goal scorer and a steadying presence on the blue line, trimmed the deficit to 2-1 with 45 seconds left in the second period. Werenski’s goal, his 16th of the season, was set up by Dmitri Voronkov and injected some life into the Columbus bench. Notably, Werenski has five points in three games since returning from an ankle injury, a testament to his resilience and importance to the club.
The third period brought a flurry of action and a dash of drama. With 4:44 left, Zack Ostapchuk broke in on a clean breakaway and buried his second goal of the season, giving the Sharks some breathing room at 3-1. But the Blue Jackets answered almost immediately—just 11 seconds later, Sean Monahan found the back of the net to make it 3-2 and set up a tense finish. Monahan’s tally, his first in several games, gave Columbus hope for a late comeback.
Yet, San Jose slammed the door shut in the final minutes. Mario Ferraro, known more for his defensive play, launched a puck the length of the ice into an empty net with 2:14 left, making it 4-2. Less than a minute later, Macklin Celebrini added another empty-netter, his 23rd goal of the season, extending his career-high point streak to 11 games. The 19-year-old rookie continues to dazzle, and his consistency has become a cornerstone of the Sharks’ recent surge.
Between the pipes, Alex Nedeljkovic was stellar in his first start since December 18. He turned aside 34 shots, outdueling Greaves, who made 31 saves for Columbus. Nedeljkovic’s performance was particularly impressive given the Sharks’ recent 7-3 drubbing by the Tampa Bay Lightning. "We talked about bouncing back, but we got to move on and continue to get better," Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said postgame. "I thought our game tonight, we got better as the game went on."
The contest wasn’t without its physicality and adversity. Sharks center Ty Dellandrea suffered an injury late in the second period after crashing into the post. He was ruled out for the third, and coach Warsofsky did not have an immediate update on his status. Dellandrea has been a key penalty killer and faceoff specialist, and his absence could be felt in the coming games. Meanwhile, veteran winger Ryan Reaves dropped the gloves with Columbus’ Mathieu Olivier after Werenski’s goal. Olivier landed a heavy right hand that sent Reaves to the ice, forcing the Sharks enforcer into concussion protocol. Reaves, a veteran of over 150 professional fights, later admitted, "It was the first time I had been caught by a punch like that in my career." He returned for the third period, much to the relief of his teammates and the home crowd.
The Sharks’ balanced attack was evident on the scoresheet, with contributions from all corners of the lineup. Regenda’s goal capped a whirlwind stretch for the forward, who was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in January 2025 and has since bounced between the AHL’s Barracuda and the NHL club. His recent recall has paid immediate dividends, with four goals in two games and a growing reputation as a clutch performer.
On the other side, the Blue Jackets’ struggles continued. Despite outshooting the Sharks 18-9 in the final period and matching San Jose with 36 shots overall, Columbus couldn’t solve Nedeljkovic when it mattered most. The loss marked their second straight to open a challenging four-game road trip. They played without forward Mason Marchment, sidelined by an upper-body injury, and now face a daunting stretch with upcoming games against the Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, and Utah Mammoth.
As the Sharks prepare to hit the road for a matchup with the Los Angeles Kings on January 7, optimism is running high in San Jose. The team’s mix of youth and experience, coupled with timely goaltending and a resurgent offense, has them trending in the right direction. For Columbus, the search for consistency—and a way out of the Eastern Conference basement—continues as their road trip grinds on.
One thing’s for sure: if the Sharks can maintain this level of play, the rest of the league will be forced to take notice. Next stop—Los Angeles, where the Sharks look to keep the good times rolling.