LUCA CAGNONI

Rookie Spark: Celebrini’s Playmaking Fuels Sharks’ Overtime Win

Three assists from Macklin Celebrini made teammates better — Will Smith finished, Luca Cagnoni won it in OT, and Askarov steadied the net

Macklin Celebrini made an immediate statement: he didn’t just flash skill, he directly set up three game-changing plays that turned chances into goals. Celebrini’s vision showed up in every zone — he recorded three assists, fired seven shots himself, and logged 22.9 minutes of ice time while posting a +1.

His presence tilted the Sharks’ on-ice chance picture. San Jose’s expected goals with him on the ice were 2.18 versus 0.20 expected goals against, and his teammates generated seven high-danger chances while he was out there compared with three against. That translating of looks into real goals helped Will Smith convert twice and pushed Luca Cagnoni into overtime, where Cagnoni buried the winner.

Netminder Yaroslav Askarov rounded out the night with a calming 23-save performance; together, Celebrini’s playmaking, Smith’s finishes and Askarov’s saves built a complete, team-driven victory in the opener.