SAN JOSE — Macklin Celebrini is all that a bag of chips for the Sharks this season. On Friday night, Celebrini picked up his ninth goal of the season to help the Sharks to a 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic looks for the puck in traffic during first period action – Photo by Jack Lima
The Sharks are 5-1-1 in their last seven games.
“We see it on a nightly basis. We see it on a daily basis. What I love [is], he just drags guys into the fight,” San Jose coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “That’s how you start winning cultures. He’s done a great job of that. Proud of him. He is one of the greatest kids, human beings. He cares. He’s a great person. We are very fortunate.”
Alex Nedeljkovic made 31 saves in the win.
“Obviously, a top team in the League,” Nedeljkovic said of the Jets.”A lot of firepower up front and [they’re] very solid defensively. I thought it was great coming back from a big win like that in Seattle (6-1 at the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday) … I think there might be a tendency to maybe take your foot off the gas a little bit, [but] I thought we stuck with it. We picked up right where we left off.
“We had a pretty solid first period; coming out with a 1-1 score, I think we’ll take it. We just kept going, kept pressing. Couple of weird bounces, [but] we responded well every time. We just made the most of the opportunities that we got.”
Josh Morrissey was the lone striker for the Jets.
“They were the better team for two periods, second and third,” Winnipeg oach Scott Arniel said. “We turned pucks over. We didn’t defend very well. We gave up lots of odd-man looks. Hellebuyck had to make some big stops.”
Morrissey staked the Jets to a 1-0 lead at 12:34 of the first period.
“Good face-off win, and kind of came out to me on a tee,” Morrissey said. “Saw there was traffic on the I guess for me, my left side, for the goalie, his right, and just tried to pick the far side of the net. I don’t think he saw it.”
Celebrini tied the game, 1-1, a little over a minute later on a breakaway.
The game-winner came from Will Smith made it 2-1 at 15:39 of the third period.
Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves in the loss.
Will Smith (center) celebrates his go-ahead goal with teammates Philipp Kurashev (96) Timothy Liljegren (37) and Dmitry Orlov (9) – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks mascot SJ Sharkie celebrates the Sharks win – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic stops Adam Lowry (17) on a shorthanded breakaway attempt – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks forward Ryan Reaves (75) checks Nikita Chibrikov (90) – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks Center Will Smith (2) scores past Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck to give the Sharks a 2-1 lead – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks center Philipp Kurashev (96) takes a shot on goalie Connor Hellebuyck as defenseman Neal Pionk (4) attempts to break up the scoring chance – Photo by Jack Lima
Macklin Celebrini (71) scores past Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck to tie the score during first period action – Photo by Jack Lima
Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck stops Phillip Kurashev’s backhanded shot – Photo by Jack Lima
Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck stops a breakaway attempt by Macklin Celebrini (71) – Photo by Jack Lima
Jets forward Kyle Connor (81) ducks under the puck in front of Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic as Shakir Mukhamadullin (85) defends – Photo by Jack Lima
Jets defenseman Neal Pionk (4) attempts to check Macklin Celebrini (71) off the puck – Photo by Jack Lima
Jets center Jonathan Toews wins a faceoff against Philipp Kurashev (96) – Photo by Jack Lima
Jets center Jonathan Toews sets up for a faceoff – Photo by Jack Lima
First star of the game Will Smith points to a fan who will receive an autographed puck – Photo by Jack Lima
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