Rookie No. 1 Pick Macklin Celebrini Stays Upbeat In Finding Positives Amidst Sharks' Losing Season

Rookie center Macklin Celebrini has been steadfast in staying upbeat amidst a losing season in which the young, rebuilding San Jose Sharks are in jeopardy of finishing last in the NHL standings for a second consecutive year.

And hitting a few goal posts isn't going to dent the 18-year-old's resolve.

Rather than let frustration seep in after firing a shot off the left post, another off the crossbar and flubbing a backhander wide of an open side in the first period at Buffalo on Tuesday night, Celebrini maintained his poise to score a clutch third-period goal to seal a 6-2 win .

"Every guy is going to go through that where they're just hitting posts and it doesn't seem like they're ever going to score," Celebrini said with a laugh. "So I don't know, I think it's just what was going on."

What mattered was how a player shouldering the title of being the future face of the franchise responded with a goal 7:58 into the third, and 63 seconds after Tage Thompson cut the lead to 3-2. Accepting Shakir Mukhamadullin's pass, Celebrini stepped into the right circle, used Buffalo's Bowen Byram as a screen and snapped a shot inside the far post.