Sharks’ Celebrini injured in game against Utah Hockey Club

SAN JOSE – San Jose Sharks rookie center Macklin Celebrini left Tuesday’s game against the Utah Hockey Club at SAP Center with what was described as a lower-body injury.

Celebrini was injured in the second period in a 3-1 Sharks loss to Utah.

While skating toward the Utah net on a partial breakaway, Celebrini got a shot away at the 13:45 mark that goalie Connor Ingram stopped. Celebrini then either lost an edge or had his left skate tapped by Utah defenseman Kevin Stenlund, causing him to lose his balance and slide hard into the end boards.

After a few moments, Celebrini got up and skated on his own toward the Sharks bench.

Celebrini took one more shift shortly afterward, skating on a Sharks power play. Afterward, he returned to the Sharks’ bench and later went to the team’s dressing room for further evaluation.

Macklin Celebrini with a great chance and then goes hard into the boards. He gets up and seems ok. pic.twitter.com/UrFreUbF4q

— JD Young (@MyFryHole) October 2, 2024

Before the third period began, the Sharks announced that Celebrini had a lower-body injury and would not return. Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky did not have an update on Celebrini after the game.

Celebrini, selected first overall by the Sharks during June’s NHL Draft, was playing in his second preseason game. He started Tuesday as the Sharks’ top-line center with William Eklund and Tyler Toffoli on the wings, and in 10:54 of ice time, won four of five faceoffs and was credited with two shots on net and two takeaways.

After Celebrini left the game, Will Smith, San Jose’s other top prospect, took over as the Sharks’ top-line center.

Celebrini said before Tuesday’s game that he was looking forward to playing for the first time in over a week. In his NHL preseason debut on Sept. 22, Celebrini had a goal and an assist in a 4-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in San Jose.

Defenseman Matt Benning scored an even-strength goal at the 12:33 mark of the second period to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead. But with Eklund serving a tripping penalty, Utah tied the game just before the second period ended, as defenseman Sean Durzi’s shot from inside the blue line got past Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood.

Utah’s Kailer Yamamoto scored twice in the third period, with the first at the 6:23 mark giving Utah a 2-1 lead. Yamamoto’s second goal, off a pretty assist from Clayton Keller, came with 2:22 left in regulation time.