Darnell Nurse scores in OT to give Sharks 3-2 win over Blues

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Darnell Nurse scored 1:03 into overtime and the San Jose Sharks beat the St. Louis Blues 3-2 on Thursday night.

Tyler Toffoli and Collin Graf also scored, and Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 24 shots for San Jose (3-1-0), which has secured each of its three wins in overtime.

Sharks captain Macklin Celebrini missed his second straight game with a lower-body injury.

Connor McMichael and Dillon Dubé each scored and Joel Hofer made 24 saves for St. Louis (1-2-1), which has lost three straight.

Nurse, who was acquired from Edmonton on July 1, deposited a feed from Ivar Stenberg between Hofer’s legs for his first goal with the Sharks.

Graf scored on a one-timer 6:05 into the third period to tie the game at 2-2 after Dubé skated down the left wing from his own blue line along to score a short-handed goal 1:39 into the third to put St. Louis ahead.

It was Dubé’s first goal after missing 2 1/2 seasons since scoring on Nov. 16, 2023 for Calgary against Vancouver.

Toffoli scored his second of the season on his own rebound as Kiefer Sherwood blocked Hofer in front of the net to tie the game at 1-all almost nine minutes into the second period.

McMichael scored his second goal of the season, two nights after scoring his first as a member of the Blues, on a feed from Mason McTavish to give St. Louis a 1-0 lead almost four minutes into the second.

Blues defenseman Colton Parayko skated in his 804th career game to break Barret Jackman’s franchise record for games played by a defenseman.

Sharks: Host Edmonton on Saturday.

Blues: Host Columbus Saturday night.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

San Jose Sharks' Sam Dickinson (6) and St. Louis Blues' Connor McMichael (77) battle for a loose puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

San Jose Sharks' Collin Graf (51) watches his goal past St. Louis Blues' Adam Jiricek (36) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

San Jose Sharks' Alexander Wennberg (21) and St. Louis Blues' Colton Parayko (55) battle for a loose puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

San Jose Sharks' Darnell Nurse (25) scores the game-winning goal past St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer (30) and Robert Thomas (18) in overtime of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea said Thursday it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, stepping up its protest against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent revelation of a supposedly secret transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.

The South Korean announcement came days after its President Lee Jae Myung threatened to take unspecified punitive steps if Ukraine refuses to apologize over the revelation.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry didn’t say when the ambassador, Park Ki-chang, will be brought back home. A ministry statement said that South Korea will continue consultations with Ukraine, adding it hopes the dispute between the two countries would be resolved smoothly.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said Ukraine remains open to “constructive dialogue” despite Seoul’s decision to recall its ambassador.

“Diplomacy must prevail over emotions,” he said, according to local media outlet RBC-Ukraine.

South Korea and Ukraine became embroiled in a diplomatic row after Zelenskyy spoke about the transfer of the North Korean soldiers during his U.N. speech on Sept. 23. South Korea has accused Ukraine of violating a nondisclosure agreement on their transfer in mid-September, but Kyiv has denied agreeing to such a deal.

The soldiers were among thousands of North Korean troops deployed to support Russia’s war against Ukraine. Since their capture in early 2025, the soldiers had expressed their desires to resettle in South Korea, because they could face persecution if repatriated home. South Korea had said it would accept them, because it legally regards the North as part of its territory and has a policy of accepting and financially supporting North Korean defectors.

South Korean officials said the nondisclosure agreement was made because they were concerned about the safety of the North Korean soldiers and their relatives in the North. But many experts say South Korea's liberal government likely also worries the disclosure of their arrival may hurt its efforts to improve ties with North Korea.

North Korea's state media hasn't commented on the soldiers' transfer. But the North previously reacted with fury to major defections of its citizens, accusing South Korea of kidnapping them. North Korea has shunned any talks with South Korea and the U.S. and focused on bolstering its nuclear program since 2019.

It's unclear what other steps South Korea would take. Experts say maintaining good relations with Ukraine is in South Korean national interests because Kyiv could provide Seoul with intelligence about North Korea's expanding cooperation with Russia and its battlefield experiences. They say cooperation with Ukraine is important for South Korea's partnerships with many Western countries supporting Ukraine over the war.

Observers say Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer of the North Korean POWs to expose the danger of North Korea's military support to Russia as a way to win more international assistance.

South Korea has provided $445 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since 2022. In July, Lee pledged $100 million in aid to Ukraine in a meeting with Zelenskyy.

FILE - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, on Sept. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)