Macklin Celebrini notched his 20th goal of the season and contributed an assist as the San Jose Sharks defeated the Vancouver Canucks 6-3 Saturday night at Rogers Arena. The North Vancouver native extended his scoring streak to seven games, tallying 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists) during that period and scoring in all five matchups against the Canucks this season.
Igor Chernyshov marked his first NHL goal and added an assist, while Colin Graf scored for the fourth consecutive game. Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov faced 24 shots as San Jose (18-17-3) snapped a three-game losing skid. Vancouver’s Connor Garland and Filip Hronek each chipped in two assists, and Thatcher Demko made 32 saves. Despite being 4-1-0 on the road before the break, the Canucks (15-19-3) struggled at home, with just four wins in 16 games this season at Rogers Arena.
Ryan Reeves opened the scoring at 6:13 in the first period, ending his 24-game scoring drought by pushing a loose puck past Demko to put the Sharks ahead 1-0. John Klingberg quickly followed with a point shot goal at 7:55 after Celebrini won a crucial faceoff. Vancouver responded on a power play at 10:04 when Linus Karlsson scored on a quick pass from Garland to make it 2-1.
The Sharks extended their lead to 3-1 early in the second when a rebound off a Demko save bounced into the net after Canucks center Marco Rossi inadvertently tipped it in, credited to William Eklund. Rossi redeemed himself 36 seconds into the third by scoring to narrow the gap to 3-2. Vancouver then withstood a lengthy 5-on-3 penalty kill but San Jose regained a two-goal lead when Chernyshov scored his first NHL goal with under five minutes left.
Drew O’Connor brought Vancouver closer at 10:43 with a shorthanded goal, but Chernyshov quickly restored the Sharks’ lead with his second goal at 16:20, marking his 20th goal of the season. Graf sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, highlighting San Jose’s balanced offensive attack.
Celebrini enjoyed playing in his hometown rink, sharing the moment with family after the holidays, while Chernyshov’s quick NHL impact alongside Celebrini demonstrated his strong offensive instincts. Defenseman Vincent Lori from nearby Coquitlam also celebrated his homecoming, assisting on the Sharks’ first goal, making the night a meaningful milestone for several young players.
Fan Take: This game highlights the emergence of young talent like Celebrini and Chernyshov, showing the Sharks’ potential to become a formidable team. For hockey fans, it’s exciting to witness new stars rise and the shifting dynamics in rivalries like San Jose vs. Vancouver, which brings fresh energy to the sport.
