Martinez Tribune The website of the Martinez Tribune.
BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER
Macklin Celebrini had a goal and an assist, and another shootout goal to lead the Sharks to a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild Wednesday afternoon at HP Pavilion.
Macklin Celebrini (L) is congratulated by John Klingberg (3) and Dmitry Orlov following his third period goal during the Sharks 4-3 shootout win over the Minnesota Wild at HP Pavilion Wednesday afternoon.
Just hours after being announced as the youngest NHL player ever named to the Canadian Olympic team since professionals began participating in the Winter Games in 1998, the 19-year-old Celebrini continued his breakout sophomore season by extending his points streak to nine straight games while solidifying his ranking as the third leading scorer in the league (62), trailing only Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid.
San Jose (20-17-3), which has missed the playoffs the past six seasons, moved into the first wild card position in the Western Conference with the win against the Wild. Minnesota came into the game with the third best record in the league (24-10-7).
Igor Chernyshov got the Sharks on the board with a goal at the 1:14 mark of the second period by juking elite Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes with the help of assists from Celebrini and William Ecklund to tie the game. Jeff Skinner gave San Jose a 2-1 lead late in the period with an assist from Dmitry Orlov.
Vladmir Tarasenko is surrounded by Brock Faber (7) and Vincent Hinostroza (18) after scoring a Minnesota goal during the first period of the Wild’s 4-3 loss to the Sharks Wednesday afternoon.
“That is an NHL move,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky told reporters, speaking of Chernyshov. “The speed, the demand that he wants with the puck. Him and Mack have obviously got some chemistry going right now, so a great finish. We’ve seen that — He had a couple of chances, similar move, and he actually just keeps like, similar to Mack, he keeps getting better.”
San Jose winger Jeff Skinner agreed: “He’s been great. Obviously, not much to go off before he got here a couple weeks ago.” He’s really skilled, really big body and sort of knows how to put himself in the right spots. I think he’s been a goal scorer most of his life — and a good point producer. He’s going to get his looks, and he wins his battles. You see him and Mack have some good chemistry, so that’s been fun to watch.”
Celebrini gave the Sharks a 3-1 lead four minutes into the third with an assist from Chernyshov, but Minnesota came back strong with goals by Marcus Foligno and Mats Zuccarello tying the game with just under 11 minutes left to play.
San Jose’s Yaroslav Askarov stops a shot for one of his 20 saves during the Sharks 4-3 shootout win over Minnesota Wednesday afternoon.
Following a scoreless overtime, Celebrini and Ecklund both lit the lamp against Minnesota goalie Jesper Wallstedt while Sharks backstop Yaroslav Askarv stopped all three shots he faced from the Wild to improve his record to 15-10 and give the Sharks an impressive win to end the year on an upbeat note.
GAME NOTES:
The win gave San Jose 40 points in 40 games, already equaling last season’s win total of 20 in 42 fewer games.
San Jose returns to the ice Saturday afternoon for a 1PM matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning, co-owners of the second best record in the Eastern Conference.
