SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks are still dealing with a handful of problems this preseason, not the least of which is a lower-body injury to No. 1 overall pick and top-line center Macklin Celebrini.
Celebrini was injured Tuesday night in the second period of the Sharks’ preseason game against the Utah Hockey Club at SAP Center.
While skating toward the Utah net on a partial breakaway, Celebrini got a shot away at the 13:45 mark before he appeared to lose an edge, causing him to slide hard into the end boards.
Celebrini got up, skated on his own toward the Sharks bench, and took one more shift shortly after on a Sharks power play. But he later went to the team’s dressing room for further evaluation.
Before the third period, the Sharks announced that Celebrini had a lower-body injury and would not return. First-year coach Ryan Warsofsky said after his team’s 3-1 loss to Utah that he didn’t have a health update on the 18-year-old wunderkind.
San Jose Sharks’ Will Smith (2) waits for a face-off against the Utah Hockey Club in the first period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
More information might become available on Wednesday when the Sharks return to practice.
“I can’t tell you how, when, or why guys get hurt,” Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood said. “There’s certain things you can do to prevent soft tissue injuries, but just as far as bad luck stuff, I just think there’s really nothing you can do. Just have to hope that you stay lucky and dodge it.”
Losing Celebrini for a significant amount of time could hurt the Sharks’ chances of making strides this season after they went 19-54-9 last year. The Sharks felt they made upgrades throughout their roster, and do have improved center depth, but were confident Celebrini could be a difference maker as a rookie considering his compete level and well-rounded game.
“Of course, he’s a good player. When he leaves the game, it’s not easy,” Sharks winger Fabian Zetterlund said of Celebrini. “But other guys, we have to step up. You feel for him, it’s going to happen during the season a lot, and we just (have to) keep playing with those guys we have on the bench.”
The Sharks have two more preseason games, on Friday and Saturday this week, and it’s clear they have a lot of work to do before they open the regular season at home on Oct. 10 against the St. Louis Blues.
After Matt Benning scored at the 12:33 mark of the second period for a 1-0 Sharks lead, Utah responded with three unanswered goals.
San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky keeps an eye on the game during their game against the Utah Hockey Club in the second period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Sean Durzi scored on the power play near the end of the second period, and Kailer Yamamoto …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
