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What we learned as Celebrini meets moment, but Sharks lose to Blues in OT initially appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN JOSE — Macklin Celebrini stole the highlight Thursday evening in his NHL regular-season debut, even because the Sharks squandered a three-goal third-period lead in a 5-4 extra time loss to the St. Louis Blues at SAP Middle.
Celebrini, the 2024 No. 1 total draft decide, scored an amazing goal lower than 10 minutes into his skilled profession, bringing a roaring crowd of 17,435 to their ft, the place they spent many of the evening till the Blues made their comeback.
The Sharks left the primary interval with a 2-1 lead and prolonged that benefit to 4-1 within the third. Playoff legend Barclay Goodrow netted a short-handed objective in his San Jose return, poetically doing so in the identical internet as his heroic Game 7 winner towards the Vegas Golden Knights that immortalized him in Sharks historical past.
The Blues roared again with three third-period objectives, although, as Justin Faulk’s wrist shot previous Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood with simply 47 seconds left in regulation compelled extra time. Brayden Schenn ended the sport 43 seconds into the additional body with a wrister of his personal, ruining Celebrini and first-year coach Ryan Warsofsky’s NHL debuts.
The loss continued a disturbing development for the Sharks, who lead the NHL in blown third-period leads previously years.
Listed below are three takeaways from the Sharks’ Opening Night time defeat:
Return of the Macklin
Celebrini entered the NHL with the load of the world on his shoulders, and he rapidly demonstrated he is able to dealing with it.
The 18-year-old heart despatched a loud message to the Blues, and the league, that he is able to be a major contributor from Day 1, regardless of his lack of NHL expertise. He completed his first NHL recreation with two factors, additionally including an help on Tyler Toffoli’s objective at 17:14 within the first interval.
Calm, cool and picked up, Celebrini represents a brand new period of Sharks hockey, and his eventful evening demonstrated the glowing gentle that could possibly be ready on the finish of San Jose’s bold rebuild.
Terrific Toffoli
Lengthy a thorn within the Sharks’ aspect, veteran winger Toffoli wasted no time endearing himself to Crew Teal followers in his San Jose debut.
The 13-year NHL veteran, who as soon as haunted the Sharks when he performed for the Pacific Division rival Los Angeles Kings, scored San Jose’s’ go-ahead objective within the first interval, and he added an help on Fabian Zetterlund’s power-play objective at 8:26 within the second interval.
Revered for his early leadership of San Jose’s young core, Toffoli confirmed that his worth extends nicely past his mentorship of younger stars akin to Celebrini, Will Smith and William Eklund.
Blackwood peppered by Blues
Blackwood was below duress all evening, because the Blues outshot the Sharks 40-29, and he did simply sufficient to maintain his crew forward till the third-period collapse.
With a new-look Sharks protection in entrance of him, Blackwood stood tall with quite a few big-time saves amongst his 35 stops, as San Jose’s blueliners labored on creating a rhythm of their first regular-season motion collectively.
Whereas the Sharks’ acquisition of top goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov stole headlines earlier than the season, Blackwood’s Opening Night time efficiency proved he may belong in San Jose’s netminder plans after he started 41 games for Team Teal final season.
