In their last game before the league pauses its schedule to hold the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Sharks gave up three goals in a lopsided first period. They never fully recovered in an 8-3 loss to the playoff-bound Dallas Stars on Saturday before an announced sellout crowd of 17,435 at SAP Center.

The Stars are playing the second night of a back-to-back following an emotional shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

Jason Robertson, Mason Marchment, Mavrik Borque, Wyatt Johnston, Thomas Harley and Jamie Benn also scored to help the Stars rebound from a 5-4 shootout loss in Los Angeles the night before. Casey DeSmith made 23 saves.

Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini has seven points (4-3—7) in his last seven games. Entering play Friday, Celebrini leads NHL rookies in goals (17) while ranking second in assists (22) and points (39). Celebrini is San Jose's leading scorer at home with 22 points (14-8—22) while playing in 23 of the teams 28 home games this season.

The Sharks want to have another offseason like it, and perhaps that first-round pick they acquired from the Stars will play a role. Whatever happens, the Sharks — and certainly their fans — do not want to be in the same position they are this year.

Mikael Granlund is back! Granlund spoke with local media before Saturday’s San Jose Sharks-Dallas Stars tilt. It’s been just one week since Granlund and Cody Ceci were traded to the Stars for a 2025 first and a conditional 2025 fourth (which becomes a third if Dallas makes the Stanley Cup Final).

NHL: San Jose Sharks face ex-teammates Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci on Saturday when they face the Dallas Stars at SAP Center

Former San Jose Sharks forward Mikael Granlund was well-loved in the Bay Area, but the forward isn't thinking about where he might play next season just yet.