Carlson's Hat Trick Leads Ducks Past Sharks

Anaheim snaps six-game skid with 6-1 victory over division rival San Jose.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 5:06am

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An abstract, energetic painting featuring dynamic hockey players in motion, their forms blending into a vibrant, neon-colored expressionist composition that captures the intensity of the game.Carlson's hat trick ignites the Ducks' offense in a high-octane divisional clash with the Sharks.San Jose Today

John Carlson scored his first career hat trick to lead the Anaheim Ducks to a 6-1 win over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night. Leo Carlsson, Alex Killorn, and Frank Vatrano also found the back of the net for the Ducks, who snapped a six-game losing streak. Beckett Sennecke, Pavel Mintyukov, Troy Terry, and Mikael Granlund each recorded two assists, while Lukas Dostal made 18 saves in goal. Shakir Mukhamadullin scored the lone goal for the Sharks, who have now lost back-to-back games.

Why it matters

The win was a much-needed boost for the Ducks, who had been struggling to find their footing in recent weeks. The divisional matchup against the Sharks also had playoff implications, as both teams are jockeying for position in the crowded Western Conference standings.

The details

Carlson opened the scoring just under three minutes into the game, dangling around a defender and firing a shot past Yaroslav Askarov. He doubled the Ducks' lead midway through the first period, one-timing a pass from Mikael Granlund. Killorn made it 3-0 in the second period, tapping in a rebound. Carlson then scored twice in the third period, including a power-play goal and a 5-on-3 tally, to complete the hat trick. Mukhamadullin spoiled Dostal's shutout bid late in the third, but Vatrano restored the Ducks' five-goal advantage shortly after.

  • Carlsson opened the scoring 2:59 into the opening period.
  • Carlson doubled the Ducks' lead at 6:20 of the first period.
  • Killorn made it 3-0 Anaheim at 5:15 of the second period.
  • Carlson scored his second of the night on a power play at 10:31 of the third period.
  • Mukhamadullin got the Sharks on the board at 12:40 of the third period.

The players

John Carlson

A defenseman for the Anaheim Ducks who scored his first career hat trick in the game, netting three goals to lead his team to victory.

Leo Carlsson

A forward for the Anaheim Ducks who scored the opening goal of the game.

Alex Killorn

A forward for the Anaheim Ducks who scored the third goal of the game, making it 3-0 for the home team.

Shakir Mukhamadullin

A forward for the San Jose Sharks who scored his team's lone goal in the game.

Lukas Dostal

The goaltender for the Anaheim Ducks who made 18 saves in the victory.

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What they’re saying

“It was great to finally get that first career hat trick. The team really needed this win and I'm glad I could contribute in a big way.”

— John Carlson, Ducks Defenseman

What’s next

The Ducks will look to build on this win as they continue their push for a playoff spot, with key divisional matchups against the Kings and Coyotes coming up in the next week.

The takeaway

Carlson's historic performance was a much-needed boost for the Ducks, who had been struggling to find their offensive rhythm in recent games. The win keeps Anaheim in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race and demonstrates the team's ability to bounce back from a tough stretch.