Macklin Celebrini led the San Jose Sharks to a thrilling 6-5 victory over the Minnesota Wild with a decisive overtime goal on Sunday. The game took place in St. Paul, Minnesota, showcasing a competitive matchup that featured impressive performances from both teams.
Key Moments and Player Highlights
Celebrini’s game-winning goal came at 3:47 into overtime. He capitalized on a loose puck in the San Jose zone after a save by Yaroslav Askarov on Brock Faber. Celebrini then maneuvered past the defenders and scored against goaltender Jesper Wallstedt.
- Macklin Celebrini: Scored the overtime goal and provided two assists.
- William Eklund: Netted two goals for the Sharks.
- Michael Misa: Scored his first career goal, contributing to San Jose’s lead.
- Ryan Reaves and Tyler Toffoli: Also scored for San Jose, with Toffoli adding a power-play goal.
- Yaroslav Askarov: Made 28 saves for the Wild.
Game Scoring Breakdown
The Sharks established an early lead with Eklund’s power-play goal, followed by Misa’s rebound goal. They finished the first period up 2-0. In the second frame, Eklund and Reaves scored just 19 seconds apart, leading to a 4-2 advantage for the Sharks.
However, the Wild showed resilience in the third period, scoring three goals, capped by Joel Eriksson Ek’s goal with 2:18 remaining in regulation. Kirill Kaprizov assisted on the goal, marking his 400th career point.
- Final Score: Sharks 6, Wild 5
- Sharks Goals: Celebrini (1), Eklund (2), Misa (1), Reaves (1), Toffoli (1)
- Wild Goals: Johansson (1), Rossi (1), Hartman (1), Buium (1), Eriksson Ek (1)
Historical Context
This victory was significant for Celebrini, who became only the second teenager in NHL history to achieve at least 12 points in his team’s first five road games. The last player to accomplish this was Sidney Crosby in the 2006-07 season.
The Sharks will next face the Los Angeles Kings, while the Wild will host the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night, providing both teams a chance to regroup after this intense encounter.
