Sharks Triumph Over Rangers
In San Jose, California, the Sharks emerged victorious against the New York Rangers with a scoreline of 3-1, thanks in large part to a standout performance from Macklin Celebrini. The young star, who was the top pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, snapped a six-game goal-scoring dry spell by netting two goals during the match, bringing his season tally to 26. Celebrini’s previous goal came on January 7, making this particular game a welcome return to the scoresheet for the 19-year-old.
Game Highlights
The Sharks took an early lead just over a minute into the game, capitalizing on a power play when Celebrini scored off a precise pass from Tyler Toffoli. This was quickly followed by another power-play goal from Pavol Regenda, who skillfully lifted a backhand shot past Rangers goalie Martin Spencer, extending the early lead to 2-0. The assists for this goal were credited to Michael Misa and Collin Graf.
Celebrini later added his second goal at the 7:37 mark of the first period, igniting chants of
“MVP MVP”
from the enthusiastic crowd. Sam Carrick managed to get one back for New York, notching his third goal of the season, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide as the Rangers suffered their third consecutive defeat, dragging their record over the last 11 games down to 2-8-1.
Player Performances
In addition to Celebrini’s pair of goals, Regenda’s performance marked his eighth of the season. Will Smith and Collin Graf each recorded two assists, while goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic was solid in the net, stopping 28 shots.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the Rangers will face the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night, while the Sharks will host the Boston Bruins on Monday.
