The New York Rangers Will Cullye (left) and the San Jose Sharks Macklin Celebrini (right) jockey for position in first period action at Madison Square Garden in New York on Thu Oct 23, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK, NY. — The San Jose Sharks (1-4-2) captured their first victory of the season, 6-5 in overtime, against the New York Rangers (3-4-2) on a thrilling Thursday night at “The World’s Most Famous Arena”.

It was an especially special night at Madison Square Garden for Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, who got a hat trick.

“MSG, it’s a pretty cool rink, we only get to come here once a year and it was great to get the first one,” he said.

The Sharks entered the famed arena with great expectations and pressure to earn their first win, and it was a relief for the team to get the job done.

“Obviously it’s nice to get the result and that’s the biggest thing,” said Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky.

“Again we’re playing some pretty good hockey, you know, we were going toe-to-toe with one of the better teams in the league and cred to the group. You know, we just kept playing an d even the last week here with the losses, the guys show up with great attitudes, they’re coachable, they’re working hard to get better individually and collectively.”

Sharks right wing Adam Gaudette made a snap shot assisted by right wing Collin Graf and center Michael Misa at 1:58 into the first period, putting San Jose up 1-0. Then Celebrini made a power play goal at 6:17 assisted by left wing William Eklund and defenseman Dmitry Orlov to boost the lead to 2-0.

The Rangers fought back and right wing Taylor Raddysh made a wrist shot at 14:19 assisted by right wing Sam Carrick and defenseman Carson Soucy to cut the Sharks’ lead to 2-1.

But Celebrini struck again with nine seconds left in the period, making a wrist shot assisted by center Will Smith and Eklund to expand San Jose’s lead to 3-1.

In the second period, center Mika Zibanejad made a power play goal assisted by left wing Alexis Lafrenière and center J.T. Miller at 4:04 to put the Rangers within one. Center Juuso Parssinen made a wrist shot assisted by left wing Conor Sheary at 6:47 to tie the game at 3-3. Then Raddysh made an unassisted shorthanded goal at 12:10 to give the Rangers their first lead of the game.

The Sharks avoided a scoreless period as Celebrini made a wrist shot assisted by Smith and Orlov with six seconds left to tie it at 4-4, and earned his third goal of the game.

Celebrini said of the pass from Smith: “I mean, I think that’s what he does best, he’s a pretty special player and I think you’ve seen him before the kind of plays he’s able to make. I was just on the receiving end on a couple of those.”

In the third period, Smith made a wrist shot assisted by Eklund and Celebrini at 6:31 to allow the Sharks to retake a 5-4 lead.

Raddysh answered back with a slap shot assisted by Miller and defenseman Adam Fox at 11:50 to tie it at 5-5.

The game went into overtime – and crunch time for the Sharks. Smith made a slap shot assisted by Celebrini and goalie Alex Nedeljkovic at 1:38 to lead San Jose to their much-needed first win.

Smith said of the goal: “Yeah it was all back I think, made a great play there around the corner and stripped again and found the slot.”

He added that it “feels good”.

“It has been a tough six games where we could have had a couple of W’s,” he said, “But everything happens for a reason.”

The Sharks (1-4-2) continue their road trip against the New Jersey Devils who are on a six-game winning streak (6-1-0) at Prudential Center on Friday. The puck drops at 4 p.m. PT.