San Jose Sharks fans are holding their breath on Tuesday after rookie phenom Macklin Celebrini left the team’s pre-season game against the Utah Hockey Club with a lower-body injury, the team announced.
The incident occurred at the 13-minute mark in the second period as Celebrini went in for a breakaway chance but tripped as he was driving by the net, forcing him to crash into the boards.
He was in apparent pain after the collision but managed to get up and get back in the play. He played another shift, which lasted one minute, 43 seconds before heading to the team’s locker room later in the frame.
However, he did not return to the team’s bench to start the third.
He had played 10 minutes, 54 seconds and had two shots on goal before being taken out.
Celebrini, 18, was the first-overall pick in the most recent NHL Draft. This was his second pre-season appearance with the Sharks after he picked up a goal and an assist in his debut against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sept. 22.
