The San Jose Sharks did more than win a hockey game. They rewrote a page of their own history. Down 5-1 in the third period in Pittsburgh, the Sharks scored five straight and then snatched a 6-5 overtime win on John Klingberg’s second goal of the night at 2:57 of OT, set up by Macklin Celebrini. It was the first time the franchise has ever come back from four goals down. It felt like a turning point, not just a comeback.

For a team closing a road trip, this was the statement win: six points banked, a second straight overtime victory, and belief that travels.

How a 5-1 hole became a 6-5 win

At 5:25 of the third, Anthony Mantha’s power-play goal pushed Pittsburgh’s lead to 5-1. Many nights, that’s the dagger. Not this one. The shift came fast and hard, and it started on special teams.

San Jose earned a 5-on-3 and made it count. At 7:33, John Klingberg hammered a shot to make it 5-2. It wasn’t just a goal; it was a mood change. The bench woke up. The building felt different.

“That 5-on-3 wasn’t a spark, it was a blowtorch.”

William Eklund kept the push alive at 14:19, cutting it to 5-3. Then came the rookie who keeps playing like a pillar. Celebrini—already with one assist—buried his 16th of the season at 17:32 to make it 5-4. Less than a minute later, Tyler Toffoli, the veteran finisher, tied it 5-5 at 18:22. The Penguins had gone from cruising to clinging in under 11 minutes.

In overtime, Celebrini took the puck and showed patience beyond his years. He drew coverage, then fed Klingberg in space. The defenseman stepped into it and ended the night. 6-5. Silence in Pittsburgh. Roar on the Sharks bench.

Celebrini’s poise and a subtle leadership moment

Momentum doesn’t always start with a goal. Earlier in the third, after a heated, injury-tinged sequence, Celebrini stood up for teammate Will Smith while they were in the penalty box, then jumped back into the action and helped flip the game. It was a small moment that said a lot.

After the win, Celebrini kept the message simple: “It just shows you’re never out of a game. I felt like the score didn’t really show how we were playing… we just did a great job sticking with it, especially when things don’t go our way.” The box score backs him up. He finished with three points—that late goal and two assists, including the primary helper on the OT winner.

“If this is the baseline for Celebrini, the West better look out.”

Klingberg and Toffoli deliver when it matters

Klingberg’s night will be remembered for the finish, but the 5-on-3 goal at 7:33 lit the comeback fuse. That strike told San Jose there was a path back. His OT winner sealed the most dramatic result of the season.

Toffoli was everywhere. He put up four points (2 goals, 2 assists), tied the game in the final two minutes, and looked like the calmest player on the ice while chaos swirled. That blend—young stars rising, veterans closing—is how fragile games flip.

“The kids brought the storm. Toffoli and Klingberg brought the hammer.”

Inside the Penguins’ collapse

Pittsburgh had this one mapped out. After a tight first, the Penguins stacked goals: Rutger McGroarty scored 19 seconds into the second to make it 2-1. Kevin Hayes added another at 9:42 for 3-1. Bryan Rust scored on a power play at 19:53 of the second for a 4-1 cushion. When Mantha scored on the power play at 5:25 of the third, it was 5-1 and felt over.

It wasn’t. Penalties opened the door. The 5-on-3 turned into a rally point, and the Penguins never settled the game down. In that span, Pittsburgh allowed four goals and let San Jose’s speed and confidence run wild.

Their stars did produce: Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist. Mantha finished with a goal and two assists. But the final 12 minutes were a lesson in game management and discipline. Arturs Silovs made 26 saves for the Penguins, yet faced high-danger looks as the Sharks swarmed late.

• Penguins goals: Rutger McGroarty (0:19 of 2nd), Kevin Hayes (9:42 of 2nd), Bryan Rust (PP, 19:53 of 2nd), Anthony Mantha (PP, 5:25 of 3rd). Crosby added a goal and an assist.

For Pittsburgh, this sting will last because it was in their hands. For San Jose, it’s the kind of win you circle in April when you look back at why the room believes.

Why this comeback means more for San Jose

This wasn’t just two standings points. It was identity. The Sharks earned six points on the road trip, grabbed back-to-back overtime wins, and learned that their young core can drive a game late against a seasoned team on the road.

The franchise note matters, too. It’s the first time San Jose has ever erased a four-goal deficit to win. Teams remember those milestones. Fans do, too. And in the tight middle of an NHL season, belief is a weapon.

What’s next after a historic night

The Sharks will need to manage the high that follows a win like this. The message is simple: keep building. Klingberg’s shot is back to being a threat. Toffoli’s touch looks sharp. Celebrini’s poise is beyond his years. William Eklund’s timing is improving. These pieces fit when the effort and discipline match the moment.

As for Pittsburgh, the film session will be blunt. Protecting leads, staying out of the box, and killing momentum swings are non-negotiable. This league punishes teams that ease off the gas.

In the end, this night belonged to San Jose. From 5-1 down to a 6-5 overtime winner, the Sharks showed heart, speed, and finish. And they added a first in franchise history along the way.