Sharks‘ Michael Misa Records Frist NHL Goal Against Wild
ST. PAUL, Minn. – San Jose Sharks forward Michael Misa scored his first National Hockey League goal Sunday afternoon against the Minnesota Wild, extending the Sharks’ offensive momentum in a game ultimately won 4-2. The goal came at the 13:35 mark of the first period, giving San Jose a 2-0 lead.
Misa, the second overall pick in June’s NHL Draft, capitalized on a play following a shot by teammate Timothy Liljegren. With Minnesota goalie Jesper Wallstedt out of position, Misa calmly scored. This marks his third point of the season, adding to assists earned in previous games against the New York Islanders and New York Rangers.
The 18-year-old Misa is now the sixth player in sharks history to score as an 18-year-old,joining Patrick Marleau,Macklin Celebrini,Vlastimil Kroupa,Jeff Friesen,and Milan Michalek.Marleau remains the youngest to achieve the feat, scoring at 18 years and 34 days old.
Prior to Sunday’s game, Misa had been a healthy scratch when the Sharks faced the New Jersey Devils on Friday. He re-entered the lineup and contributed immediatly.
The Sharks’ offensive surge continued with William Eklund scoring a power-play goal at 5:28, assisted by Macklin Celebrini. Celebrini’s assist extended a notable streak: teenagers had factored into the sharks’ previous 10 goals. Though, that streak ended in the second period with Eklund’s second goal of the game, assisted by Philipp Kurashev. Ryan Reaves followed quickly with his second goal of the season, increasing San Jose’s lead to 4-2.
Celebrini’s assist on Eklund’s first goal also placed him among elite company, becoming the fifth teenager in NHL history to record 10 points through his team’s first five road games, alongside Sidney Crosby, Phil Housley, Dale Hawerchuk, and Wayne Gretzky.
The wild battled back to tie the game 2-2 before the end of the first period with goals from Marcus Johansson and Marco Rossi.
