The Buffalo Sabres‘ hot streak is about to come up against the best young hockey player in the world.
The Sabres are taking on the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night, and that means Macklin Celebrini.
Celebrini, still just 19, is on his way to becoming the best player in the NHL. He was the No. 1 pick a year ago and has been dominant for San Jose this season.
Ruff knows exactly what the Sabres are up against. When asked by reporters about the matchup with Celebrini, Ruff summed it up in three words:
“He scares me.”
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Fair enough. Celebrini is certainly as dangerous as anyone in the league.
This season, Celebrini has played 61 games. He has 32 goals and 57 assists, for 89 points.
He enters Tuesday night’s matchup on a five-game point streak.
Celebrini most recently scored a goal against the Islanders and a goal against the Blues.
Before that, he had a goal and three assists against the Canadiens, an assist against the Jets and a goal against the Oilers.
He played at the Olympics for Team Canada, where he led the silver medalists with five goals. That clearly didn’t tire him out, because he’s rolling back for the stretch run with the Sharks.
The Sabres are coming off an absurd, fight-filled, 8-7 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Celebrini, though, brings a different kind of intimidation. He’s simply an incredible talent, and the Sabres will have to do everything they can to slow him down.
