November 17th 2024.
As a young boy, San Jose Sharks rookie centerman Macklin Celebrini looked up to Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. He was a huge fan and even owned a Crosby jersey and stick. Celebrini vividly remembers watching Crosby lead the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2016 and 2017.
On Saturday night, Celebrini had the opportunity to face off against his childhood idol. He watched as Crosby scored his 599th career NHL goal early in the second period, giving the Penguins a three-goal lead. But the Sharks were not about to back down. They responded with three straight goals to tie the game, showcasing their resilience and determination.
Unfortunately, after a scoreless overtime, the Penguins were able to secure a 4-3 victory in a four-round shootout. Crosby, along with Anthony Beauvillier and Evgeni Malkin, scored for the Penguins while Mikael Granlund and William Eklund scored for the Sharks. Despite the loss, the Sharks were able to end their road trip against Metropolitan Division teams with a respectable 1-1-2 record.
This game mirrored the Sharks' previous match against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, where they also fell behind by three goals before rallying to tie the game. Unfortunately, they lost that game in a shootout as well. But the Sharks showed that they are a team that never gives up and are always ready to fight until the very end.
After Crosby's goal in the second period, the Sharks came alive with two goals from Tyler Toffoli and one from Granlund. Toffoli's second goal in the third period tied the game 3-3, setting the stage for an intense and nail-biting finish. Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, who came into the game in the second period, was outstanding in relief, making 25 saves including six in overtime. Blackwood had previously recorded a 44-save shutout in the Sharks' 1-0 win over the New Jersey Devils at the start of the road trip.
Now, the Sharks return home to face the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, marking the beginning of a busy week with road games against the Dallas Stars and the St. Louis Blues. Toffoli's power-play goal and Granlund's eighth goal of the season, assisted by Fabian Zetterlund, were crucial in the Sharks' comeback.
The Sharks started the game off slow and found themselves trailing 2-0 within the first seven minutes of the first period. The Penguins scored their first goal just 61 seconds into the game, as Bryan Rust took advantage of a pass from Michael Bunting and managed to get past Sharks defenseman Cody Ceci for the early lead. The Penguins then had another goal by Malkin taken off the board after a challenge by the Sharks' coaches, but they quickly retaliated with another goal by Jesse Puljujarvi.
In the second period, Sharks goalie Vitek Vanecek was replaced by Blackwood for undisclosed reasons, and Crosby wasted no time in scoring his 599th career goal. Blackwood, who had been impressive in his previous game against the Devils, struggled to stop Crosby's shot from the point. This was Crosby's fifth goal in 23 regular season games against the Sharks.
Saturday's game was also significant as it marked the first time that Sharks' teammates Will Smith and Celebrini started an NHL regular season game on the same line and played against Crosby and Malkin. Smith had an up-and-down start to his professional career and was recently moved from center to the wing. He played alongside Celebrini and Barclay Goodrow in the first period and created several scoring chances.
Despite the loss, Celebrini and the Sharks can take pride in their resilience and determination. They may have lost in a shootout, but they proved that they are a team to be reckoned with.
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