Macklin Celebrini's 'amazing' NHL debut offers a silver lining for the Sharks – NBC Sports Bay Area and California

SAN JOSE – Macklin Celebrini's NHL debut started like it was written in a Hollywood script.

However, this film ended with the hero in agonizing defeat, despite doing everything he could to deliver a fairytale ending.

Celebrini had a goal and an assist in his first game of the NHL regular season on Thursday night, setting the Sharks up for a comfortable win before they collapsed late in a 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues.

Although Celebrini suffered a tough loss in his first professional game of the regular season, just four months after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, Celebrini was still aware of how difficult it is to take the ice.

“It was great. It’s everything I imagined for my first game,” Celebrini said. “It was an incredible experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.”

Celebrini immediately caused a stir when he opened the scoring with a remarkable backhand goal.

MACKLIN CELEBRINI SCORES HIS FIRST NHL GOAL 🚨

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– Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) October 11, 2024

The 18-year-old center detailed what led to his unforgettable goal that sent the SAP Center crowd into a frenzy.

“I got a pass into the zone. I didn’t see many options,” Celebrini said. “They had a couple of guys back and I saw (William Eklund) shoot it into the net and I thought he took a step on the defender, so I just tried to fake it and then throw it in the middle “To see if he could get a stick.” But it was just a lucky bounce off (Blues defenseman Matthew Kessel's) skate.

Celebrini also provided an assist on veteran winger Tyler Toffoli's goal, with the youngster serving the puck on a plate from his position behind the Blues' net.

Macklin Celebrini's first NHL assist ✅
Tyler Toffoli's first Sharks goal ✅
Sharks lead ✅
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– Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) October 11, 2024

While Celebrini and the Sharks didn't get a win, there was some excitement at the SAP Center long before the puck even dropped – a rare, if not unprecedented, sight in recent years during San Jose's five-year playoff drought.

Celebrini was greeted with cheers from the moment he stepped onto the ice for his rookie skate with former top-five draft pick Will Smith, and he wasted no time in crediting the Sharks fans for their unwavering support thank.

As Celebrini reflected on what this momentous occasion meant, he quickly described what stuck in his mind.

“I think just the whole process leading up to it,” Celebrini said. “All my teammates and I just went through it with Smitty too. That was really cool. Just all those memories, those plays, the first shift. All of that. The warm-up, the rookie round. I tried to absorb as much as I could.”

St. Louis' late onslaught ruined Celebrini's perfect ending, but make no mistake: his electric performance is the first of many more to come, offering the Sharks a reassuring silver lining even after a tough loss.