Sharks' Celebrini Out With Lower-Body Injury, Stutzle Powers Senators Past Bruins
Macklin Celebrini was ruled out with a lower-body injury ahead of the Sharks' matchup against the Dallas Stars on Monday, according to thehockeynews.com.
The 20-year-old was a full participant in morning skate and suited up for warmups before being held out. San Jose made last-minute adjustments to their forward lineup once Celebrini was scratched.
Head coach Ryan Warsofsky said in a post-game interview that Celebrini was being evaluated further, with his timeline for return still up in the air. His exact injury details and return timeline are not confirmed.
The Sharks lost 5-0 to the Dallas Stars on Monday, and the absence was felt immediately.
STUTZLE LEADS SENATORS PAST BRUINS
When Brady Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers in the off-season, it was unclear how Tim Stutzle would fare without his long-time linemate. The German pivot has since reinforced his ability to drive play on his own, scoring twice and finishing with three points in the Ottawa Senators' 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins, per thehockeynews.com.
Stutzle carried the offense from the middle, and the Senators didn't need their former captain to generate chances. His night stood as the latest evidence that Ottawa's rebuild around him is on solid footing.
But the Senators didn't leave that victory without concern. Linus Ullmark didn't suit up for the third period for what head coach Travis Green described as "precautionary" reasons.
The severity or nature of Ullmark's issue is not confirmed; Green only called it precautionary. That alone was enough to raise eyebrows, given Ullmark missed significant time last season.
He has been on fire to start this season, only allowing two goals in two starts. The Senators will be hoping the precautionary label holds up as they monitor their starter's status.
FLYERS' POWER PLAY STRUGGLES
The Philadelphia Flyers' difficult start to the season continued with a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to thehockeynews.com. Generating offense with the man-advantage has been especially tough for them.
The Flyers went 0-for-3 on the power play in Monday's contest, making them 0-for-11 to start the season. That's a cold streak that would test any club's patience.
These struggles are unfortunately common in Philadelphia. The team finished last in the NHL in power play in four of the last five years, per thehockeynews.com.
WHY CELEBRINI'S ABSENCE HURTS
Any amount of absence for Celebrini is devastating for the Sharks' competitive hopes, per thehockeynews.com. That was evident in their 5-0 loss to the Dallas Stars on Monday, a game that laid bare just how much of the offense runs through the 20-year-old.
The Sharks made last-minute adjustments to their forward lineup when Celebrini was ruled out with what the team described as a lower-body injury. He was a full participant in morning skate and suited up for warmups before being held out, leaving the coaching staff scrambling to rework the lines on the fly.
How long Celebrini will be out is not confirmed. Head coach Ryan Warsofsky said in a post-game interview that Celebrini was being evaluated further, with his timeline for return still up in the air.
The timing is brutal. San Jose's early-season margin for error was already razor-thin, and losing their franchise center for any stretch of games removes the one player who can consistently create chances against top competition. Monday's shutout showed the drop-off when he isn't out there.
The Sharks will hope the evaluation brings good news, but the immediate picture is clear: without Celebrini, their competitive ceiling drops significantly.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Fans will be watching the Sharks' injury report closely in the coming days, though Celebrini's return date has not been confirmed. The team is evaluating him further, according to thehockeynews.com, with his timeline for return still up in the air.
In Ottawa, the Senators will monitor Linus Ullmark's status after he left the game for precautionary reasons. Ullmark's availability for the next game is not confirmed, but given his strong start — only two goals allowed in two starts — his presence in net is a storyline worth tracking.
The Flyers, meanwhile, will look to fix their power play after going 0-for-11 to start the season. They finished last in the NHL on the man-advantage in four of the last five years, so the early struggles are a familiar concern. Their next game offers a chance to snap the drought, but the numbers say patience is wearing thin.
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