Sharks' Macklin Celebrini scores goal 7:01 into first career NHL game, picks up first-period assist

Christian Babcock, The Mercury News on Oct 11, 2024

Published in Hockey

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SAN JOSE — Macklin Celebrini didn’t take long at all to pick up his first career NHL goal.

The San Jose Sharks’ rookie No. 1 overall pick took just 7:01 to put the Sharks up 1-0, getting the puck past St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer on a deflected pass in the crease. Celebrini’s goal was assisted by William Eklund and Jake Walman.

Celebrini was looking for Eklund in the blue paint, but the puck deflected in, getting Celebrini on the board instead.

“I saw Ekky driving the net, so I just decided to create some space and make a play to the front of the net, see if he could get a stick on it,” Celebrini told ESPN during the first intermission. “I actually didn’t know I had scored until he told me a little bit into the huddle. But I’m just happy it went in.”

The Sharks’ lead didn’t last long. Pavel Buchnevich scored for St. Louis at 8:41, assisted by Jordan Kyrou and Philip Broberg.

But Celebrini was back on the job near the end of the first period. His pass from behind the net set up Tyler Toffoli on the doorstep to put the Sharks up 2-1 at 17:14.

San Jose kept the momentum rolling in the second period. The Sharks paid off their first power play of the season, as Fabian Zetterlund buried a feed from Mikael Granlund at 8:26 to put San Jose up 3-1.

Late in the second, Barclay Goodrow stole the puck at the blue line, initiated a breakaway and bounced it into the net off the back of Hofer, giving the Sharks a three-goal lead.

The Blues responded after the second intermission, though. Radek Faksa brought St. Louis within two goals just 2:54 into the third period off an assist from Nathan Walker. Then at 6:11, Ryan Suter ripped a shot from the slot to make it 4-3.

Finally, with 47 seconds remaining in regulation, Justin Faulk maneuvered a wrister through the Sharks’ defense, tying the game 4-4 and sending it to overtime.

Forty-five seconds into the overtime period, Brayden Schenn won it for St. Louis, converting on a shot from the left circle.