Macklin Celebrini was human for a few moments, but his late heroics sealed another win for the Sharks.
Macklin Celebrini was forced to confront a costly mistake on a night that had already cemented his arrival.
Brutal Mistake
Clinging to a 3–2 lead late in the third period, the San Jose Sharks looked poised to close out a statement win. Instead, Celebrini attempted a risky outlet pass through the middle of his own zone, a cardinal sin in hockey. Mats Zuccarello made him pay. He stepped into the lane, intercepted the puck, and buried the tying goal, instantly shifting the momentum and threatening to sour what had been a celebratory day.
Just hours earlier, the 19-year-old had been named to Canada’s Olympic roster, becoming the first NHL teenager selected for Team Canada since NHL players began attending the Winter Games in 1998. He backed up the honor with a strong performance, scoring a goal and adding an assist to help San Jose seize a late lead against one of the league’s elite teams.
Even Better Response
What followed defined the night more than the turnover itself. Rather than retreat, Celebrini responded with purpose. He fired five shot attempts at Jesper Wallstedt over the closing minutes of regulation and into overtime, driving play and forcing Minnesota onto its heels. When the game reached the shootout, he delivered again, helping lift the Sharks to a 4–3 victory on New Year's Eve.
The Sharks’ resilience extended well beyond their rookie star. Goaltender Yaroslav Askarov endured early frustration, surrendering three goals from distance, including a painful bad-angle one-timer from Marcus Foligno. But when the game demanded it, Askarov steadied himself, denying Quinn Hughes on a breakaway in overtime before turning aside every attempt in the shootout.
That collective response has become a defining characteristic of this San Jose group. Young contributors continue to push through adversity: Shakir Mukhamadullin fought through an upper-body injury that made him a game-time decision, while Ty Dellandrea played despite illness. Time and again, the Sharks have found ways to weather moments that might derail a less mature team.
The results are beginning to mirror that growth. With the win, San Jose improved to 20-17-3, already equaling last season’s win total in just 40 games. Even more telling, the Sharks now sit in the top wild card position — a standing few would have projected at this stage of the season.
Celebrini’s rapid rise has undoubtedly fueled the turnaround, but the larger story is about a young roster learning how to respond to adversity. And if they keep this up, the future will look even brighter for this team.
