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Sharks Highlights: Macklin Celebrini Scores First Career Hat Trick; Will Smith Scores Four Points

San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini
Photo: Sport Shots/Dean Tait

On Wednesday, San Jose Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini scored his first career hat trick against the Minnesota Wild.

Celebrini also became the Sharks franchise leader in points by a rookie with 62 after his first career five-point night. The 2024 No. 1 pick finished with three goals and two assists.

Luke Schumann, the make-a-wish child who is a Celebrini super fan, witnessed history in person.

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In what ended up being a whacky, high-scoring game, Celebrini wouldn’t be outdone by Joel Eriksson-Ek, who had four goals for the Wild. Fellow San Jose Sharks rookie Will Smith finished with four points of his own in the 8-7 loss.

Celebrini’s hat trick goal was set up from a beautiful feed from Smith as he wrapped around the net.

The Sharks rookie collected a puck in front of the Wild net and beat Marc-Andre Fleury with a patient move to the forehand.

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Fluery is the NHL’s oldest player and has given up five goals this season to Celebrini, the NHL’s youngest player.

Tyler Toffoli returned from a one-game absence due to injury, but the ‘sleepover’ line was not reunited.

Smith finished with three assists, all on Celebrini’s goals. He tied the game at seven with under a minute left in the third period.

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Unfortunately for the Sharks, they lost their seventh straight game as Kirill Kaprizov scored the overtime-winning goal for the 8-7 final.

Celebrini’s Sharks and NHL accolades

The San Jose Sharks center became the first NHL No. 1 pick with a hat trick since Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews did in 2016.

Celebrini missed games earlier this season with a lower-body injury, but that didn’t stop him from breaking the franchise scoring record set by Pat Faloon in 1991-92 (25-34—59).

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The 18-year-old became the first Sharks rookie to score a hat trick since Tomas Hertl’s four-goal performance against the New York Rangers in 2013.

Celebrini became the sixth 18-year-old in NHL history with a five-point game. The others are: Connor Bedard (1-4—5 on March 12, 2024), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (0-5—5 on Nov. 19, 2011), Ilya Kovalchuk (1-4—5 on Jan. 19, 2002), Dale Hawerchuk (3-2—5 on March 13, 1982) and Jack Hamilton (4-1—5 on Dec. 4, 1943).

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