Macklin Celebrini scored a dramatic overtime goal just 46 seconds into the extra period to give the San Jose Sharks a thrilling 5-4 win over the Detroit Red Wings at SAP Center on Monday night. The victory marked a much-needed rebound for the Sharks, who had been winless in their previous three games.
Celebrini’s Moment of Glory
Celebrini, who controlled a pass from Mikael Granlund while skating down the left wing, managed to beat Detroit’s goalie Cam Talbot with a low glove-side shot from close range. “It’s fun to win one in overtime,” Celebrini said after the game. “We’ve been on the wrong side of it a couple of times, so it was nice to get that one.” The Sharks’ forward credited Granlund for creating the opportunity, setting up a perfect screen that gave him the space to make the decisive shot.
Eklund’s Dual Contribution
William Eklund had a standout performance, scoring two goals in the game, including a power-play goal that tied the game at 1-1 in the first period. Eklund’s efforts were crucial in maintaining momentum for the Sharks as they battled back from deficits throughout the match. “The first goal was a power-play goal, and we’ve been talking about improving that all season,” Eklund said. His contributions were complemented by Alex Wennberg, who tallied two assists.
Late Drama for the Red Wings
Dylan Larkin led the charge for Detroit, registering a goal and an assist, including a beautiful backhanded shot to put his team ahead at the start of the game. Despite a late equalizer from Alex DeBrincat, who scored on a power-play with less than three minutes remaining in the third period, the Red Wings could not hold off the Sharks in overtime.
Goaltending Impact
Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood made 17 saves, earning the win, while Talbot, despite 29 saves, was left to rue the overtime loss. Detroit coach Derek Lalonde pointed to Talbot’s overall strong performance, acknowledging that the goalie “had some really good play tonight,” despite the tough outcome.
Sharks’ Fight for Identity
San Jose coach Ryan Warsofsky expressed satisfaction with his team’s effort, particularly in the third period where they took control of the game. “I thought we deserved to win the hockey game. We pushed the pace and took over parts of the third period that we’ve been talking about all year. That was our identity,” Warsofsky said.
With this win, the Sharks move to 6-10-4 for the season, while Detroit’s struggles continue, having lost five of their last six games. The Sharks will hope to build on this momentum as they head into a tough road trip, while Detroit looks to bounce back from another heartbreaker.
