Macklin Celebrini and Alexander Ovechkin went head to head yesterday, two different generations of number-one draft picks. Celebrini is getting closer and closer to the Calder trophy race finish line, just as Ovechkin is on his way to breaking Wayne Gretzky’s scoring record. Yesterday played a role in contributing to these goals.
Going into this game, it was expected to be a steep hill for the Sharks to climb considering that Ovechkin is on his way to beating Gretzky’s scoring record. Also, the Capitals hold the top spot of the Metropolitan Division and the second place spot overall in the NHL.
The 70’s line (Tyler Toffoli, Celebrini and William Eklund) started in today’s game, along with Mario Ferraro and Shakir Mukhamadullin. The first period was uneventful scoring-wise for the Sharks, but it ended with three goals from the Capitals.
The first was by Dylan Strome from Ovechkin and Tom Wilson. Then, there were ten minutes of some back and forth with one penalty on the Sharks, an interference by Timothy Liljegren. Two minutes later, the Capitals’ Aliaksei Protas scored the team’s second goal. And in just one more minute, Taylor Raddysh got one with two minutes left in the first period.
The Capitals scored three goals in the first period for the fifth time this season. Washington's five games with three or more goals in the first period are tied for the sixth most in the NHL.
— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) March 15, 2025
The second period saw a change in the net. Alexandar Georgiev was replaced by Georgi Romanov for the Sharks. After the game, Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky said it wasn’t as much about Georgiev’s play as it was about how the Sharks played in front of him.
Warsofsky was unequivocal in stating that Georgiev was pulled because of #SJSharks performance in front of the goalie
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 16, 2025
It appeared that the message was sent because the second period was physical. It started when Rasmus Sandin took an interference penalty on Eklund, followed by Ferraro for holding. At 14 minutes, the gloves came off the hands of Tom Wilson in a fight against new Shark, Zack Ostapchuck.
Tom Wilson just absolutely pummeling a dude. pic.twitter.com/9bN1dJY8kq
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) March 15, 2025
But this was not the last time the gloves would hit the ice. Noah Gregor and Brandon Duhime went at it with five minutes left in the period. A minute later, Ferraro got frustrated and tried to pick a fight. It didn’t work and he was dealt a roughing penalty. While there were plenty of penalties, there were no goals in the second period.
The tension died down in the third period and the first six minutes were calm. Then, Celebrini found a pocket to get the Sharks on the board.
San Jose goal!
— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) March 15, 2025
Scored by Macklin Celebrini with 13:41 remaining in the 3rd period.
Assisted by Tyler Toffoli.
San Jose: 1
Washington: 3#WSHvsSJS #TheFutureIsTeal #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/FBOrZPYUaN
This might have changed the tone of the game, but as playoff contenders tend to do, the Capitals quickly responded. Less than a minute later, Trevor van Riemsdyk regained the three goal lead for the Capitals.
Later in the period, Ovechkin added his 34th goal of the season, the 887th goal of his career. It was the cherry on top for the Capitals, who beat the Sharks 5-1.
Some time off to think
Last night was obviously not the outcome Warsofsky wanted, and time after time, it appears the Sharks still have not found what it takes to win games this season. We asked Warsofsky his overall message to the team before Thursday’s game:
“Oh, we’re a few days away from that; we’re gonna get a practice in tomorrow; we got Monday off, and we practice on Tuesday and will be ready to go,” said Warsofsky.
Such a short answer answers the question of how this season has felt: Frustrating.
The Sharks play again Thursday, giving the team a few days to regroup and prepare to welcome Brent Burns and the Carolina Hurricanes.
Toffoli on being a leader for this team
Toffoli has made it clear that he is a leader on this team. Not only in points but overall leadership, especially with the younger Sharks. We asked him about his message to the team, and how he can keep good energy going:
“I mean, we got what four days between our game and got to obviously reset a little bit and get our practices and come to the rink tomorrow, get our energy level back and be ready to work. And then get our game back,” said Toffoli.
Zack Ostapchuck on his fight:
Zack Ostapchuck was very recently traded to the Sharks from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for former Shark, Fabian Zetterlund. Yesterday was Ostapchucks debut in teal, and he did it in style. He kicked his first game off by throwing off the gloves and going for it with Wilson. We asked him if it was more heat of the moment and if he felt it set the tone for the game:
“Yeah, I think so, obviously, he kind of surprised me if his gloves came off pretty quick, just grabbing him and trying to shake that one off. So, I mean, it was good,” said Ostapchuk with a laugh.
It seems he didn’t take it too hard and it was such a way to start his time here in San Jose.
Scoring summary Washington Capitals at San Jose Sharks March 15, 2025
First Period
7:33 WSH Dylan Strome from Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson
17:26 WSH Aliaksei Protas from Lars Eller and Tom Wilson
18:55 WSH Taylor Raddysh from John Carlson and Pierre-Luc Dubois
Second Period
No Goals
Third Period
6:19 SJS Macklin Celebrini from Tyler Toffoli
6:59 WSH Trevor van Riemsdyk from Lars Eller and Andrew Mangiapane
10:54 WSH Alex Ovechkin from Martin Fehervary and Pierre-Luc Dubois
