What we learned when Celebrini met, but Sharks lose to Blues in OT

What we learned when Celebrini met, but Sharks lose to Blues in OT originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

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SAN JOSE – Macklin Celebrini stole the spotlight Thursday night in his NHL regular-season debut, even as the Sharks squandered a three-goal third-period lead in a 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues in SAP Center.

Celebrini, the 2024 No. 1 overall draft pick, scored a stunning goal less than ten minutes into his professional career, bringing a roaring crowd of 17,435 to its feet, where they spent most of the night until the Blues made their comeback .

The Sharks left the first period with a 2-1 lead and extended that lead to 4-1 in the third. Playoff legend Barclay Goodrow scored a short-handed goal in his return to San Jose, doing so poetically in the same net as his heroic Game 7 winner against the Vegas Golden Knights that immortalized him in Sharks history.

The Blues roared back with three goals in the third period, however, when Justin Faulk’s wrister shot past Sharks goalkeeper Mackenzie Blackwood with just 47 seconds left in regulation forced overtime. Brayden Schenn ended the game 43 seconds into the extra frame with a wrister of his own, spoiling the NHL debut of Celebrini and first-year coach Ryan Warsofsky.

The loss continued a troubling trend for the Sharks, who have led the NHL by large third-period margins in recent years.

Here are three takeaways from the Sharks’ Opening Night defeat:

Return of the Macklin

Celebrini entered the NHL with the weight of the world on his shoulders, and he quickly showed he could handle it.

The 18-year-old center sent a loud message to the Blues and the league that he is ready to be a key contributor from Day 1, despite his lack of NHL experience. He finished his first NHL game with two points and also added an assist on Tyler Toffoli’s goal at 5:14 of the first period.

Calm, cool and collected, Celebrini represents a new era of Sharks hockey, and his eventful evening demonstrated the glowing light that could await at the end of San Jose’s ambitious rebuild.

Great Toffoli

Toffoli, a thorn in the side of the Sharks, wasted no time in endearing himself to Team Teal fans in his debut in San Jose.

The 13-year NHL veteran, who once chased the Sharks while playing for the Pacific Division rival Los Angeles Kings, scored San Jose’s go-ahead goal in the first period and added an assist on Fabian Zetterlund’s power-play goal at 8:26 into the second period.

Toffoli was revered for his early leadership of San Jose’s young core and showed his value extends far beyond his mentorship of young stars like Celebrini, Will Smith and William Eklund.

Blackwood laced with Blues

Blackwood was under duress all night, as the Blues defeated the Sharks 40-29, and he did just enough to keep his team ahead until the third-period collapse.

With a revamped Sharks defense in front of him, Blackwood held his ground with numerous big saves among his 35 stops as San Jose’s blueliners worked to develop a rhythm in their first regular-season action together.

While the Sharks’ acquisition of top goaltender Yaroslav Askarov stole headlines before the season, Blackwood’s performance on Opening Night proved he might belong in San Jose’s netminder plans after playing 41 games for Team Teal last season.