On the evening of Jan. 6, the San Jose Sharks started the second half of their season with a bang, beating the Columbus Blue Jackets five to two. Here’s what went down–
It all started late in the 1st period when number 84, Pavol Regenda, scored the first Sharks goal with only 49 seconds remaining on the clock. This came after his hat trick in the tough loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning on the third of January. By the end of the 1st period, the Sharks held a steady 1-0 lead against the Blue Jackets.
With only four and a half minutes left in the 2nd period, number 21 Alex Wennberg scored on the power play after assisting in Regenda’s goal in the 1st period. Later in the 2nd period, Blue Jackets’ number 8, Zach Werenski scored, making the score 2-1, in the Sharks’ favor.
At 15:16 in the 3rd period, number 63 for San Jose, Zack Ostapchuk scored against Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves, making the score 3-1, before Blue Jackets’ number 23, Sean Monahan scored with only 3:55 to go. The score was made 3-2, with the Blue Jackets hot on the Sharks’ tails. With only 45 seconds left on the clock, Sharks number 71, Macklin Celebrini, and number 38, Mario Ferraro, scored two empty netters, winning the game, 5-2. Celebrini’s point-streak was extended from 10 to 11 games.
The team in teal came back Wednesday night in Los Angeles to face-off with their state rival, the Los Angeles Kings. With several Hollywood stars in the crowd, like Will Ferrell and Emma Roberts, and the age-old rivalry between the two teams heating up for the wildcard playoff spot, tensions were high at the Crypto.com Arena.
Both teams were hot on the shot during the 1st period, yet there was no score by the end of the 20 minutes. It wasn’t until a Sharks power play in the second period that Tyler Toffoli, number 73, scored for a 1-0 lead only four minutes into the second period. Celebrini was on the assist for that first goal, allowing the extension of his point-streak to 12 games. He is tied for third as the teenager with the longest point-streak in NHL history.
Later into the 2nd period, Kings number 15, Alex Turcotte, scored to even out the score, 1-1. Adam Gaudette, number 81 for San Jose, scored on the Kings for a 2-1 lead but Los Angeles came back with a game-tying goal by number 22 for the Kings, Kevin Fiala. The score was, once again, even at 2-2.
The score stood still until 18 minutes into the final period when Kings number 14, Alex Laferriere, put the Kings ahead for the first time at 3-2. This goal lit a fire under young Celebrini who shot a missile through traffic into the net with only 1:07 left in regulation, tying the game at 3-3. Regulation time finished with no goal from either team and into overtime the game went.
The three-on-three was quick from the jump, with both teams scrambling down the ice to score. The Celebrini line was in with no goal before he came off for a rest. However, seconds later he was back on the ice and three minutes into overtime Celebrini slid a perfectly timed pass around the Kings defense to his left wing, number 72, William Eklund who scored for the 4-3 win.
Celebrini is on fire as he is gearing up for the Winter Olympics in Italy, where he will play for Team Canada. The 19-year-old first overall draft pick seems to be skipping the learning curve and jumping straight into his career. He is leading a team of veterans in points, with 67 points logged this season. It’s exciting to think about where Celebrini’s career will go if this is just the beginning.
The Sharks are off until Saturday, Jan. 10, when they host the Dallas Stars for a matinee game at 1:00pm.
