Smith’s late goal lifts Sharks to nail-biting win over Winnipeg Jets

SAN JOSE Will Smith scored a go-ahead goal with left in the third period to lift the San Jose Sharks to an impressive - win over Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg on Friday at SAP Center With the competition tied Philipp Kurashev controlled the puck behind the Jets net before he put a pass out to Smith who slid the puck over to Macklin Celebrini After a moment with the puck resting behind Hellebuyck and just in front of the goal line Smith poked it across for his sixth goal of the season Celebrini also scored a dazzling first-period goal and now has sole possession of the NHL s scoring lead with points as the Sharks won for the sixth time in nine games and now have a points percentage with a - - record Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic finished with saves outdueling Hellebuyck who had Nedeljkovic made four saves in the final seconds to preserve the win for San Jose which hosts the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Saturday The Jets took a one-goal lead at the mark of the first period as a shot from inside the blue line by defenseman Josh Morrissey determined its way past a screened Nedeljkovic But Celebrini answered right back Just later he took a long pass from Tyler Toffoli went in alone on Connor Hellebuyck and beat the reigning Vezina and Hart Trophy winner with a forehand to backhand move for his team-leading ninth goal of the season Celebrini entered Friday in a three-way tie for the lead in NHL scoring as he Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel all had points Celebrini was coming off a three-point battle on Wednesday when the Sharks romped past the Seattle Kraken - for their fifth triumph in eight games Celebrini is among multiple players his age who grew up admiring Jonathan Toews who signed a one-year deal with his hometown Jets in July Toews a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks who was named one of the NHL s top players of all time in had missed the past two seasons for vitality reasons related to Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome and long COVID- Celebrini declared the first hockey jersey he owned was a Blackhawks jersey with Toews name and number It s tough to emulate a participant like that he s just so unique Celebrini declared Talk about one of the best defensive forwards his ability to win face-offs and just how he tied that Blackhawks band together Obviously he was the captain but he just did all things exceptionally well Friday s challenge represented a chance for the Sharks to get to a points percentage The last time the Sharks owned such a mark was March when they were - - Over the last three years the Sharks had gotten off to such poor starts that they never gave themselves a chance to reach a points percentage