Celebrini's 3-point game powers Sharks to a 4-2 win over the Canadiens

MONTREAL (AP) — Macklin Celebrini had two goals and an assist to lead the San Jose Sharks to a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.

Collin Graf had a goal and two assists and Mario Ferraro also scored for San Jose, which ended Montreal’s three-game winning streak. John Klingberg finished with two assists, and Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 25 shots.

Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki scored for Montreal, and Noah Dobson had two assists. Jakub Dobes made 17 saves.

The Canadiens held third place in the Atlantic Division, four points behind the division-leading Buffalo Sabres with two games in hand, heading into Saturday’s games.

The Sharks were one point shy of the Los Angeles Kings for the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot, with two fewer games played.

Caufield opened the scoring at 7:21 in the first period, beating Nedeljkovic with a wrist shot for his career-best 38th goal of the season.

Celebrini tied the game with his 34th at 13:12. Ferraro later floated a wrist shot from the point and fooled Dobes before Celebrini’s attempt deflected off Graf’s leg, giving San Jose a 3-1 lead at 16:20 in the second.

Suzuki beat Nedeljkovic on the glove side with 2:22 remaining in the second to cut the lead.

Celebrini sealed the win, scoring his second of the game into an empty net at 17:56 in the third.

San Jose rookie forward Igor Chernyshov left early in the first period after a scary fall. Chernyshov collided with Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson in the neutral zone before losing his balance twice when he attempted to stand up. San Jose coach Ryan Warsofsky said Chernyshov was released from the hospital and will travel with the team to Ottawa.

The 33rd overall draft pick in 2024, Chernyshov was playing in his 16th NHL game and his first since being recalled from the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL. He has three goals and 11 points this season.

The Canadiens released a statement on social media, saying their thoughts were with Chernyshov.

Sharks: At Ottawa on Sunday.

Canadiens: Host the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

San Jose Sharks' Igor Chernyshov (92) lies on the ice after being checked by Montreal Canadiens' Mike Matheson (not shown) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

San Jose Sharks' Igor Chernyshov (92) falls to the ice as he tries to stand following a check by Montreal Canadiens' Mike Matheson (not shown) as referee Eric Furlatt (right) helps during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

San Jose Sharks' Collin Graf (51) celebrates his goal in front of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75), Lane Hutson (48) and Alexandre Carrier (45) during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, March 14, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield (13) scores on San Jose Sharks goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (33) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

San Jose Sharks' Macklin Celebrini (71) celebrates his empty net goal with teammate Collin Graf (51) against the Montreal Canadiens during third period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, March 14, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Daniil Medvedev handed top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz his first loss of the year and advanced to the final at Indian Wells with a 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory Saturday.

The 11th-seeded Medvedev, from Russia, will face second-seeded Jannik Sinner of Italy. Sinner beat Alexander Zverev 6-2, 6-4.

Alcaraz had won 16 straight matches this year, including titles at the Australian Open and Qatar Open. But Medvedev ended the possibility of an Alcaraz vs. Sinner final. Medvedev had dropped his last four meetings against Alcaraz, including a loss in the Indian Wells final in 2024. This was Medvedev's first victory over him since the U.S. Open semifinals in 2023.

Sinner made quick work of Zverev, beating him in 1 hour, 23 minutes. Sinner notched six aces against the fourth-seeded Zverev.

Zverev won his first eight points on serve. But Sinner broke Zverev in both the fifth and seventh games to secure the first set. Sinner now leads the head-to-head series against Zverev 7-4.

Neither Medvedev nor Sinner has dropped a set yet in this tournament. Sinner has won his last three matches against Medvedev, including in the U.S. Open quarterfinals in 2024.

In the women's doubles final, Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova beat Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic 7-6 (4), 6-4. The victory marked Townsend's first at Indian Wells and Siniakova's second. Siniakova also won in 2023 alongside longtime partner Barbora Krejcikova.

In the men's doubles final, Guido Andreozzi and Manuel Guinard topped Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot 7-6 (3), 6-3. In mixed doubles, Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli beat top-seeded Gabriela Dabrowski and Lloyd Glasspool 6-3 2-6, 10-7.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Alexander Zverev, of Germany, returns a shot against Jannik Sinner, of Italy, during a semifinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Jannik Sinner, of Italy, serves against Alexander Zverev, of Germany, during a semifinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Jannik Sinner, of Italy, returns a shot against Alexander Zverev, of Germany, during a semifinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns a shot against Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during a semifinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, serves against Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during a semifinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)