Macklin Celebrini, 19, tops 50 career goals as Sharks dump Rangers

Macklin Celebrini scored twice, leading the San Jose Sharks to a 3-1 victory over the visiting New York Rangers on Friday night.

Pavol Regenda also tallied while Will Smith and Collin Graff added a pair of assists each for the Sharks, who improved to 9-4-0 over their past 13 games and 14-9-3 on home ice this season.

Alex Nedeljkovic made 28 saves for his fifth straight win.

Sam Carrick scored the lone goal for the Rangers, who have lost 11 of 13 (2-9-2) and dropped to 16-12-2 on the road. New York wrapped up its four-game road trip with three straight losses (1-3-0).

Spencer Martin stopped 28 shots.

Celebrini opened the scoring at 1:09 of the first period on a power play, tapping in a cross-crease feed from Toffoli for his 25th of the season.

At 19 years, 224 days, Celebrini became the second-youngest active player to notch 50 career goals, trailing only Sidney Crosby, who was 124 days younger. He reached 50 goals faster than any Shark ever, getting there in 120 games. The old mark of 135 games of was set by Logan Couture.

San Jose doubled its lead on a power play at 3:08 of the first when Regenda backhanded a shot over Martin's blocker.

The Sharks logged a pair of power-play goals faster than they ever had in a game. The old mark of 4:02 was established on Oct. 27, 2022.

Celebrini added his second of the opening period at 7:37, one-timing a Smith pass over Martin's shoulder. The 51st goal of his career was his 26th of the season.

It was Celebrini's seventh career multi-goal period, which ranks as the eighth most in team history.

Carrick got the Rangers on the board at 12:50 of the first, putting home a bouncing puck between Nedeljkovic's pads.

Friday was the second and final meeting of the season between the clubs. The Sharks edged the host Rangers 6-5 in overtime on Oct. 23.

--Field Level Media