On January 30th, 2020 the Sharks hosted the Monarchs at East End arena in what turned out to be a classic game that came down to the wire. With a depleted line up due to injury, the Monarchs had 2 AP players in their line up to try and beat the Sharks. In the first period, both teams came out strong and it resembled a track meet up and down the ice. Just after the halfway point of the period, the Sharks were able to slow things down and get rewarded with a goal off of the stick of Jackson Kostiuk. This seemed to ignite the Monarchs and not even 2 minutes later they respond with a goal of their own. Zach Einarsson scores on a breakaway goal and tie the game up at 1 goal a piece. The rest of the period had many other chances, but no more goals would be scored.
In the opening minutes of a very exciting second period, the Sharks take a penalty which sends the Monarchs to the power play. Cole Penner is able to make the Sharks pay and gives the Monarchs their first lead of the game at 2-1. The Sharks, not to be outdone, battle back and Carson Kinoshita lights it up for 2 quick goals in just over 2 minutes giving the Sharks back the lead 3-2. With just over 5 minutes left in the period, Monarchs defenceman Aaron Krestanowich scores by throwing the puck in on next for a dump in and fooling Sharks goalie Darian Pisker. In a last-minute effort, the Sharks pin the Monarchs in their zone defensive zone and Nick Giasson is able to convert on a chance, making the score 4-3 heading into the third period in favour of the Sharks.
Being down a goal heading into the third period, the Monarchs catch a break by getting a short powerplay after 4 on 4 play. They Monarchs make the most of the short powerplay with a goal from Evan Gradt and tie the game up at 4 goals apiece. The tie game is short lived for the Monarchs as the Sharks come down on the next play and score seconds later thanks to a Braeden Smith go-ahead goal. This lead by the Sharks would prove to be insurmountable as the Sharks defeat the Monarchs by a score of 5-4.