Macklin Celebrini lights up MSG with second career hat trick

The The San Jose Sharks finally ended their 17-game losing streak. They picked up their first win of the 2025 season on Thursday night with a 6-5 overtime thriller over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, thanks to Maclin Celebrini carrying the day. The 19-year-old forward hit a home run for his second career hat trick and added two assists, becoming the 15th teenager in NHL history to collect more hat tricks.

Celebrini opened the scoring at 6:17 of the first period, deflecting a one-timer past William Eklund past Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who finished with 19 saves. He added two more goals in the second period, including a dramatic tying goal with 5.8 seconds left that gave the Sharks a late surge. Celebrini also assisted on Will Smith’s game-winning goal at the 1:38 mark of overtime, capping a five-point game and giving San Jose the win.

Smith was equally brilliant, contributing two goals and two assists, including the overtime winner, while teammate William Eklund recorded three assists. Veteran defender Dmitry Orlov added two assists and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 22 shots for the win. The combined efforts of Celebrini, Smith and 2025 No. 2 pick Michael Misa helped the Sharks get 10 points from players 20 years of age or younger, a mark Toronto last accomplished on Jan. 8, 1986.

San Jose’s young stars led a team effort that overcame a late Rangers comeback that included two goals from Taylor Radish, his second career hat trick, while Mika Zibanejad and Juuso Parsinen also scored.

New York, seeking its first home win of the season, has now lost five straight games at Madison Square Garden to open the year, their worst start since 1943-44. The Rangers also suffered an injury blow as Matt Rempe left with an upper body injury following a scuffle with Ryan Reaves.

The Sharks, now 1-4-2, avoid starting the season with a seven-game losing streak for the third straight year as they continue a multi-year rebuilding process. Led by second-year coach Ryan Warsofsky, they will play the New Jersey Devils in their next game on Friday.