The San Jose Sharks open a four-game homestand Tuesday night against the Buffalo Sabres at SAP Center, and Macklin Celebrini has a chance to put himself in some notable company. If he records a point, Celebrini would become the first Sharks skater with a five-game, season-opening home point streak since 2013-14.
That would tie a mark previously reached by Patrick Marleau, Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl during the 2013-14 season. For Celebrini, it would be another sign of how quickly he has become a central part of the Sharks' attack early in the year.
What the Sharks bring into the matchup
San Jose enters the game coming off a six-game road trip in which it went 3-2-1. The homestand offers a chance to build on that trip and settle back into a familiar setting after nearly a week away from home ice.
The Sabres, meanwhile, have had recent success in San Jose. Buffalo has won four straight games there since Feb. 18, 2023, which gives Tuesday's matchup a little extra weight beyond the individual streak watch around Celebrini.
A familiar home-ice challenge
This is part of an 11-game NHL schedule Tuesday night, but the Sharks and Sabres game stands out because of the combination of team trend and individual milestone. San Jose is trying to start strong at home, while Buffalo is looking to continue a run of success in the building.
If Celebrini extends his streak, it would connect this season to a Sharks history that has only been matched a few times before. If not, the homestand still begins with a chance for San Jose to reset after a solid road trip and test itself against a club that has handled SAP Center well in recent meetings.
