San Jose, California — In an impressive display of young talent, rookie Macklin Celebrini made a significant impact during the San Jose Sharks’ 7-2 victory against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night. Celebrini, who was the top pick in last year’s draft, achieved his first career three-point game by scoring two goals and contributing an assist. His performance was particularly highlighted by a surge of three goals in the early part of the third period.
The scoring momentum shifted when Celebrini found the net just over a minute into the third, breaking a 2-2 tie. Following his lead, Timothy Liljegren scored quickly after, which was closely followed by another goal from Celebrini on a five-on-three power play, effectively putting the game out of reach for the Kings. Anze Kopitar and Brandt Clarke were among the scorers for Los Angeles but could not keep pace with the Sharks’ explosive performance.
Yaroslav Askarov made 22 saves in his first home start for the Sharks, while the Kings’ goalie David Rittich managed to save 14 shots. The game started with Nico Sturm scoring a breakaway goal for San Jose at 1:47 of the first period, thanks to a well-placed outlet pass from Mario Ferraro, with Askarov also credited with an assist.
This victory was particularly vital for the Sharks, who had struggled through their recent matches, having lost six out of their last seven games. Celebrini’s performance signifies a hopeful shift for the rebuilding Sharks, with other rookies like Will Smith and Askarov also showing their skills on the ice. The team’s scoring outburst in the third period marked the highest tally they have reached in a single period this season.
For the Kings, who had recently secured a close 2-1 win over the Seattle Kraken, the task of maintaining consistency has proven difficult. They are yet to achieve a three-game winning streak this season, highlighting their struggles with momentum.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Fabian Zetterlund scored with a wraparound goal just before the end of the second period, leveling the score at 2-2. This goal ignited a streak of six unanswered goals from San Jose, sealing their dominant performance.
Kopitar continues to impress, as he has recorded a point in ten of his last twelve games, accumulating a total of 16 points during this period, which includes three goals and thirteen assists.
As the teams prepare for their next matches, the Kings will take on the Winnipeg Jets at home on Wednesday, while the Sharks will face the Ottawa Senators in their next matchup.