The San Jose Sharks may not be having the season they wanted but Macklin Celebrini is giving the fans something to be excited about. This week he had the best game of his young career with his first NHL hat trick in an 8-7 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild. Celebrini didn’t stop there; he also had 2 assists for 5 points and is now in the Sharks record books.
Celebrini is the first 18 year old in franchise history to have a hat trick, he joins Anaheim Ducks’ Leo Carlsson and Columbus Blue Jackets’ Cole Sillinger as the only 18 year olds in the NHL to do it in the last 8 seasons. His big game was his 4th multigoal game of the season and shows he is getting more and more confident on the ice.
How Celebrini Dominated Against the Wild?
Celebrini’s first goal came early in the 1st period thanks to some great puck movement by his teammates. Rookie forward Will Smith sent the puck to defenseman Jack Thompson, who quickly fed it to Celebrini in the slot. Celebrini picked up the puck and swept it past Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.
His 3rd goal of the night was a beauty. Mid 3rd period, Smith went down the ice and around the net and found Celebrini cutting to the goal. Celebrini roofed it. Fleury was sprawled out and couldn’t do anything as the puck hit the back of the net.
A Late Surge for the Rookie Sensation
Celebrini has been slow to get going this season but has really found his stride over the last two months. Since March 1st, he has 6 goals and 14 assists, he’s more than just a prospect. He’s now just 2 points behind Montreal’s Lane Hutson for the rookie scoring lead and he missed time early in the season.
David Pastrnak Makes History for the Bruins
Meanwhile David Pastrnak is rewriting the record books even in a down year for the Bruins. In Tuesday’s 7-2 win over the New Jersey Devils he had a goal and 2 assists and reached 100 points for the 3rd time in his career. He’s the first Czech born player in NHL history to do so.
Pastrnak wasn’t done there. Earlier in the week he had his first career natural hat trick in a 5-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. He had a hand in all 5 Boston goals, 2 assists to go along with his 3 goals.
In Saturday’s rematch against the Hurricanes Pastrnak was ridiculous with 2 highlight reel goals. First, he scored from an impossible angle after kicking the puck to himself and shooting it past Frederik Andersen. Then, he deked his way around Andersen for another beauty.
Over his last 4 games Pastrnak has 5 goals and 8 assists and is now at 42 goals and 58 assists on the season. Even though, the Bruins will miss the playoffs Pastrnak has been a bright spot.
Jake Sanderson Shines for the Senators
Ottawa Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson is having the best season of his life. The 21 year old is at 54 points and his 43 assists are second on the team behind Tim Stützle.
Sanderson has been on fire lately. In his last 5 games he has 3 goals and 2 assists, including a big game in the 3-0 win over the Florida Panthers. Early in that game, he was in the face-off circle and Shane Pinto set him up for a one-timer. Just 3 minutes later he had a secondary assist on a Drake Batherson power-play goal.
As, the Senators head into the playoffs for the first time since 2017, Sanderson is a must have.
Adin Hill is the Anchor for the Golden Knights
Vegas Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill has been a brick wall in net this season with a 31-13-5 record, 2.46 GAA and .908 SV%. He’s been the key to a team looking to get back to the Stanley Cup.
Hill has been lights out lately. Thursday against the Seattle Kraken he stopped 24 of 25, 11 of them in the 3rd period to preserve the win. In his last 9 games, he’s allowed 1 or fewer goals in 4 of them. He can handle the pressure as the playoffs approach.
Hill will be the key to their run with the Golden Knights closing in on the top of the Pacific Division.
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