UPDATE: The San Jose Sharks secured a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on December 25, 2023, at the Honda Center, with standout rookie Macklin Celebrini playing a pivotal role despite briefly leaving the game due to an injury.
Celebrini, who scored in the first period and added two assists in the second, recorded his 10th three-point game of the season. His contributions were crucial as the Sharks held on for the win, marking their fifth victory in the last eight games.
With just over 14 minutes remaining in the third period, Celebrini was struck in the face by a deflected shot from Ducks forward Alex Killorn, causing him to fall to the ice. Fortunately, he returned to the game with 6:13 left on the clock, sporting noticeable marks near his left eye, showcasing his determination to help his team secure the win.
The Sharks jumped to an early lead with goals from Mario Ferraro and Celebrini, despite a shaky first period that included eight giveaways. Ferraro’s goal, his 100th NHL point, came at the 10:43 mark off a setup from Adam Gaudette. Celebrini later scored with just 48 seconds left in the first period, restoring the Sharks’ lead after a quick response from Ducks forward Troy Terry.
As the game progressed, the Sharks maintained their edge with goals from Igor Chernyshov, William Eklund, and Zack Ostapchuk, the latter netting his first goal in a Sharks uniform at the 13:47 mark of the third period, pushing the score to 5-3. However, the Ducks made a late push, with Terry scoring again with 4:02 remaining after goalie Petr Mrazek was pulled.
Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov shined in the net, racking up 39 saves and playing a critical role in the Sharks’ defense, especially during a tense final stretch where they killed a late tripping penalty.
Fans are buzzing about this hard-fought win as the Sharks improve to 2-0-0 since the Christmas break. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on how Celebrini’s performance continues to impact the Sharks’ playoff aspirations.
Stay tuned for further updates on Celebrini’s health and the Sharks’ upcoming matchups as they aim to build on this momentum.
