Sharks Dominate Canucks Behind Celebrini’s Four-Point Night and Fast Start
The San Jose Sharks came out flying and never looked back in a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks, powered by a statement performance from rookie Macklin Celebrini and a relentless offensive surge that set a franchise record for fastest three goals to start a game.
First Period: Sharks Set the Tone Early
The tone was set just minutes into the game when Tom Willander opened the scoring for Vancouver with a well-placed shot that beat Yaroslav Askarov through a double screen. But that moment of momentum for the Canucks was short-lived.
Enter Macklin Celebrini.
The 2024 first-overall pick answered right back with a dazzling shift. He danced around Filip Chytil at the blue line, forced a save from Kevin Lankinen, and then finished the sequence with a one-timer off a slick backhand feed from Will Smith. The building, filled with fans who may have mentally checked out on the Canucks’ season, came alive - and not for the home team.
Celebrini wasn’t done.
Just minutes later, he created another scoring chance with a high-zone steal, setting up Adam Gaudette for a clean one-timer that beat the backcheck and the goalie. The Sharks were rolling, and the Canucks looked stunned.
Tyler Toffoli added to the onslaught with his 15th goal of the season, taking a pass in the slot from Alexander Wennberg and burying it to make it 3-1. That third goal came just 5:55 into the game, setting a new Sharks franchise record for fastest three goals from the start of a game - by a single second over a mark that had stood since March 29, 1994.
The Canucks swapped goalies at that point, bringing in Arturs Silovs for Lankinen, but the damage was done.
Will Smith nearly made it four with a shot that rang off the crossbar, and the Sharks continued to dominate zone time. Even defenseman Timothy Liljegren, not known for his offensive aggression, found himself with multiple one-timer opportunities from the point - a rare sight in recent Sharks seasons.
Late in the period, the Misa line kept the pressure up with a strong cycle shift, and Vancouver, struggling to find any rhythm, resorted to icing after icing. The Canucks looked more like last season’s Sharks than a playoff hopeful.
The only blemish came in the final minutes when Celebrini took a penalty, giving Vancouver a rare breath of life. But San Jose killed it off to open the second period, keeping their grip on the game.
Second Period: Sharks Weather a Push, Then Strike Again
Vancouver came out with more energy in the second, forcing a few scrambles in front of Askarov, including a big one-timer that the Sharks’ netminder turned away. But the Sharks weathered the storm.
When Teddy Blueger took a penalty for interference, it gave San Jose a chance to flip momentum again - and they did just that.
Will Smith, already with an assist on the night, ripped a shot high blocker side to extend the lead. The Sharks’ bench erupted, and the Canucks’ crowd was left to sit in stunned silence. Fittingly, the arena DJ played “1979” after the goal - a nod to better days, perhaps, even if 1979 wasn’t exactly a banner year for the franchise.
The Wennberg-Smith connection continued to shine later in the period with a crisp cross-slot exchange that nearly added another. And while Vancouver tried to push back, the Sharks calmly took control again, cycling effectively and forcing more icings.
A nearly full two-man advantage gave the Canucks a golden opportunity to claw back in, but Askarov stood tall and Mario Ferraro came up with key blocks. The Sharks’ penalty kill unit was dialed in.
Then came the fireworks.
Patrick Kane dropped the gloves with Liljegren in what turned out to be the first fight of the young defenseman’s NHL career. It was quick and one-sided, with Kane clearly looking to release some frustration. No real harm done, but it was a moment that showed Vancouver’s frayed nerves.
Third Period: Sharks Close It Out the Right Way
John Klingberg, who hadn’t scored since his last visit to Vancouver exactly a month ago, got in on the action early in the third. His point shot found twine thanks to a perfect screen from Wennberg - and another assist from Celebrini, who now had four points on the night.
The Sharks were in full control. Even when Vancouver managed a power-play goal from Filip Hronek to cut the lead, San Jose answered with a grinding shift from the Wennberg line, keeping the Canucks from building any momentum.
From the backcheck efforts of Liljegren and William Eklund to a smart defensive breakup by Klingberg on a 2-on-1, the Sharks played a complete third period. They didn’t just coast - they managed the game with poise.
Even Ryan Reaves got in on the defensive effort with a solid backcheck late, a small but telling sign of how committed the Sharks were to closing this one out the right way.
And at the end of the night, Askarov earned his first win in nearly three weeks, dating back to January 7th in Los Angeles. He wasn’t overly busy, but when called upon - especially on the penalty kill - he delivered.
Final Thoughts
This was the kind of performance that shows what the San Jose Sharks are capable of when everything clicks. Celebrini was electric.
Smith was sharp. The defense contributed offensively and held strong in their own zone.
And most importantly, the Sharks didn’t let up after grabbing an early lead - something that’s tripped them up in the past.
It was a game that started fast, stayed focused, and finished strong.
And for a team still shaping its identity, that’s exactly the blueprint they’ll want to follow moving forward.