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

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.

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.

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.

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).

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).

Read more Sharks Hockey Digest news and stories with the links below! Bookmark the page and follow Sharks Hockey Digest on Twitter @SharksHKYDigest!

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