As the NHL gears up for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, teams are meticulously preparing for the intense competition ahead. Nonetheless, there are teams that have already been eliminated from the race. In the Western Conference, the San Jose Sharks find themselves among the teams whose playoff aspirations have effectively vanished. Clearly, their season has not met expectations, as evidenced by their performance after 78 games, where they have accumulated only 51 points.
Nonetheless, it’s still hockey, and certain matches can captivate the fans who dedicate their time to the arenas. And such high-stakes games have also attracted people like NBA star Stephen Curry. Indeed, he was present at the SAP Center, cheering for the home team. However, recently, the Xcel Energy Center hosted an exhilarating showdown featuring the San Jose Sharks and the Minnesota Wild. The game’s primary focus?
The NHL Network recently highlighted a noteworthy achievement, reporting, “Macklin Celebrini picked up his first career five-point game last night!” The Wild narrowly defeated the Sharks 8-7 in a thrilling, high-scoring overtime match at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Nonetheless, the match was highlighted by exceptional displays from both sides, as numerous players reached noteworthy milestones, including Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini.
The 18-year-old delivered an impressive performance, achieving his first NHL hat trick and contributing two assists, culminating in a total of five points. Celebrini found the back of the net for the first time in the second period. At 7:29, he scored his first goal with a wrist shot, with assists from Jack Thompson and Will Smith. He netted his second goal at 12:28, once more with a wrist shot, aided by assists from Smith and Timothy Liljegren.
Macklin Celebrini picked up his first career five-point game last night! @SanJoseSharks | #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/9gQrW1KM1C
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) April 10, 2025
During the third period, precisely at 10:02, Celebrini achieved a remarkable feat by netting his third goal, with Smith and Thompson providing the assists. Did you know that Stephen Curry has a special connection to the rookie?
NBA star Stephen Curry gave his time for the San Jose Sharks’ match
On April 5, 2025, Stephen Curry was spotted at the SAP Center, enjoying a Sharks game alongside his family as they rallied for Macklin Celebrini. In the matchup against the Seattle Kraken, cameras caught a heartwarming moment as Curry and his children took in the game, with his eldest daughter, Riley, sporting a Sharks beanie.
Curry shares a significant link with the Sharks rookie, stemming from Macklin’s father, Rick Celebrini, who holds the position of Vice President of Player Health and Performance for the Golden State Warriors. This connection has cultivated a nurturing alliance between Curry and the younger Celebrini.
The NBA star has previously expressed his backing for Macklin, notably assigning him a nickname during the 2024 NHL Draft, saying, “Maybe we’ll call him ‘Chester’ … cause his hands are so filthy, just like after eating a big ol’ bag of Cheetos.” It’s evident that the two families share a strong connection, and this relationship could potentially unite their substantial fan bases in the future.
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