Celebrini Sets Career High in Ice Time as Sharks Slide
San Jose Sharks captain Macklin Celebrini played a career-high 28:05 in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars, the most ice time for any Sharks forward on the second night of a back-to-back since Owen Nolan logged 28:54 on Feb. 9, 2000. Celebrini double-shifted with Filip Bystedt largely benched and finished with three assists, giving him five points in his last three games.
"He's going. He's making things happen," Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said postgame. "So you've got to play him."
Celebrini also saw 8:01 on the power play as San Jose went 1-for-6 with the man advantage. The performance came despite the Sharks missing second-line center Alexander Wennberg, who is close to returning from injury and could play as soon as Monday against the New York Islanders.
Sharks' Losing Streak Reaches Five Games
San Jose has lost five straight and seven of eight, dropping to 7-11-1. The Sharks own the NHL's worst high-danger chance differential at 5-on-5, have scored a league-low 1.88 goals per game since Oct. 23, and sit six points out of a playoff spot with a 4.3% postseason probability per MoneyPuck. Only the rebuilding Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks have a worse points percentage in the Western Conference.
"I think we're making strides these last two games," Warsofsky said Saturday, also referencing Friday's 4-1 loss to the conference-leading Minnesota Wild. "We've got to stick to the process and just continue to work and get better, and the result will come."
Reliance on Captain Raises Sustainability Questions
Celebrini's heavy workload reflects a lack of secondary scoring. With Wennberg out, Michael Misa has filled in on the top line alongside Celebrini and Will Smith, but depth down the middle remains thin. Celebrini has missed two games with a lower-body injury this season, and while fans have speculated he is still playing through it, both he and Warsofsky have denied that.
"Everyone has their own job, and part of my job is to create offense and score goals and help set up some plays," Celebrini said on Nov. 3. "I'm not getting the results right now, but I feel like yesterday I played a lot better and felt better personally than I have in past games."
Islanders Matchup Offers Fresh Storyline
Monday's game against the Islanders pits Celebrini against rookie Victor Eklund, the 20-year-old brother of Sharks forward William Eklund. It marks the first NHL meeting between Victor and Celebrini, who was a former teammate of William's. The Islanders are also welcoming back Mathew Barzal, Matias Maccelli and Ryan Pulock, who joined the team's California road trip.
The matchup also revisits Bo Horvat's bizarre stick-stealing incident with William Eklund from a previous visit to San Jose, which resulted in a $2,500 fine.
Broader Implications for San Jose
Celebrini's career-high ice time is not sustainable, but the Sharks need it right now. The 2024 first overall pick has become the face of the franchise and the only consistent offensive driver on a team struggling to score. As trade rumors swirl and pressure mounts on general manager Mike Grier, Celebrini's ability to carry the load — and stay healthy — will shape San Jose's season and long-term rebuild.
For now, the Sharks' immediate concern is ending a losing streak that has already buried their playoff hopes. Whether Celebrini can continue shouldering a historic workload may determine how quickly the team finds its footing.
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