Macklin Celebrini Shines with Four Points as Ducks Fall to Sharks
Sharks Rally to Defeat Ducks in Thrilling Finish
SAN JOSÉ — In a dramatic showdown on Wednesday night, the San José Sharks edged out the Anaheim Ducks with a score of 4-3, thanks to a stellar performance from Macklin Celebrini. With less than two minutes remaining, Celebrini tied the game, followed by an assist on Alexander Wennberg’s winning goal just 31 seconds later.
Celebrini’s impressive four-point game included two goals and two assists, bringing his season totals to 40 goals and 105 points. This performance propels him past Erik Karlsson, who recorded 101 points in the 2022-23 season, making Celebrini’s point total the second highest in franchise history. Only Joe Thornton’s 114 points from the 2006-07 season remains higher.
At just 19 years old, Celebrini has now notched 17 games this season with three or more points, a feat that trails only Wayne Gretzky in NHL history for teenagers; Gretzky achieved this milestone 19 times during the 1979-80 season.
Will Smith also contributed significantly for the Sharks, recording one goal and two assists, while goalie Yaroslav Askirov made 28 crucial saves.
The Ducks had briefly pulled ahead in the third period when Troy Terry scored just 4:04 in, making the score 3-2. However, Celebrini quickly responded to equalize with 1:39 left in the game.
Ryan Poehling and Alex Killorn also scored for the Ducks, who have now lost three consecutive games but still hold the top spot in the Pacific Division. Drew Helleson provided two assists, and Lukas Dostal made 16 saves, marking his first assist of the season on Poehling’s goal.
The Ducks were without their leading scorer, Cutter Gauthier, who suffered an upper-body injury during a previous game against Toronto. Nathan Gaucher, the Ducks’ 22nd overall pick in the 2022 draft, made his NHL debut in this matchup.
With this victory, San José leads the four-game regular-season series against Anaheim 2-1. The Ducks will seek to bounce back in their next game against St. Louis at the Honda Center on Friday night.
