Macklin Celebrini logs three points as Sharks nip Blues

Field Level Media|published: Thu 12th December, 22:57 2024

Dec 12, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the St. Louis Blues during the second period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Rookie Macklin Celebrini scored twice and earned an assist to lead the visiting San Jose Sharks past the St. Louis Blues 4-3 on Thursday.

Jake Walman had a goal and an assist, Tyler Toffoli also scored and Nikolai Kovalenko notched three assists as the Sharks snapped a three-game losing streak.

Alexandar Georgiev made 17 saves to win his Sharks debut. He and Kovalenko arrived from the Colorado Avalanche in a trade for Mackenzie Blackwood and Givani Smith on Monday.

Jake Neighbours had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who took just their second regulation loss in eight games (5-2-1) since Jim Montgomery took over as coach.

Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou also scored for St. Louis, and Jordan Binnington made 27 saves.

Toffoli put the Sharks up just 1:21 into the game. He converted a rebound during the goalmouth scramble that followed Binnington's turnover behind his net.

Neighbours leveled the game 1-1 midway through the first period. He took an outlet pass from Ryan Suter, skated up the left wing and scored off a toe-drag move to the middle.

Celebrini put the Sharks ahead 5:43 into the second period. He raced up the left wing and tried to make a cross-ice pass to Toffoli. Blues defenseman Colton Parayko blocked the pass while sliding, but the puck came back to Celebrini -- who caught Binnington playing the pass.

The Sharks closed the second period with a power play that produced heavy pressure. Celebrini capped the flurry by scoring from the left faceoff dot off a pass from Mikael Granlund at 19:53 for a 3-1 lead.

Schenn cut the deficit in half by converting a weak-side rebound at 5:34 of the third period after Mathew Kessel shot the puck into heavy traffic.

However, 27 seconds later, Walman increased the Sharks' lead to 4-2 by scoring from left wing off a two-on-one pass from Kovalenko.

Kyrou cut the lead to one goal again by driving to the left post and scoring off a touch pass from Pavel Buchnevich at 7:57.

With Binnington pulled for an extra attacker, Buchnevich hit the left post in the closing seconds as St. Louis' comeback bid fell short.

--Field Level Media

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