Celebrini and Smith lead the Sharks: Epic triumph vs Rangers in the NHL

In the midst of a six-game losing streak at the start of another rebuilding season, the San Jose Sharks saw two young pillars of the franchise deliver exactly the kind of performances the team expects from them over the next decade or more. Macklin Celebrini scored a hat-trick and assisted on Will Smith’s overtime goal, giving the number 1 pick of 2024 his second five-point game early in his second NHL season. The Sharks are no longer the only team in the league without a win. And it all happened at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers.

It’s good to see the young guys fired up like that. We need those guys to step up in big games, and they both did.

Ryan Reaves

Reaves threw his helmet onto the ice to celebrate Celebrini’s third goal at the end of the second period.

I just made sure there was something on the ice for him. I didn’t know how far Sharkie’s fans were, if they had good arms or not, so I just made sure there was one for him.

Ryan Reaves

Celebrini stole the show by assisting Smith’s goal in the third period and then again in overtime.

He speaks for himself, to be honest, doing that in MSG on a huge stage. In a game where we needed it, he showed up.

Will Smith

Counting one pick from the 2025 selection, number 2, Michael Misa, the Sharks obtained 10 players aged 20 or under for the second time since April. The last team to do it before them was Toronto on January 8, 1986.

When you draft them that high, you expect them to perform like that and they’ve shown time and time again why they were drafted that high and why all that was going to fall on their shoulders. It’s great to see.

Ryan Reaves

This occurred in the context that San Jose was starting with a 0-4-2 record, the fourth consecutive season in which the team has lost at least four in a row at the beginning. After his team’s morning practice, second-year coach Ryan Warsofsky offered an optimistic message.

We are not going to give up. There is still a lot of hockey to play. We are going to keep going. We are going to keep pushing and challenging and we are going to get through this together.

Ryan Warsofsky

It was fitting that the most important pillars led the way. The Sharks haven’t made the playoffs in the last six years and aren’t expected to do so again this season, but they hope to take a step forward in the process of becoming contenders again. In an effort to achieve this, they added veterans like Reaves and Stanley Cup champion defenseman Dmitry Orlov to the mix.

We have a great group. A lot of youth that keeps us old guys young. It’s fun to come to the rink every day.

Barclay Goodrow

Celebrini and Smith had fun in New York City during this tour, which also included a team outing to see “Book of Mormon” on Broadway. A song from the show played in the victorious visiting locker room after the 6-5 victory.

I felt like he brought the guys together a bit. He could be the new guy.

Ryan Reaves