San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini has earned praise from every opposing coach across the league in his first two NHL seasons, and Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff also took a minute Tuesday to extoll the 19-year-old’s virtues.

Besides seeing him play for the Sharks this season, Ruff watched Celebrini during last month’s Winter Olympics in Milan, where the 19-year-old had a tournament-leading five goals and finished second among all skaters with 10 points.

Celebrini entered Tuesday’s game against the red-hot Sabres fifth in the NHL in scoring with 89 points, as he’s been involved in 47% of the Sharks’ 189 goals this season.

“He scares me,” Ruff said. “Incredible talent. I watched him in the Olympics. He’s an unbelievably talented kid. He’s a team driver, can drive your offense, and is unbelievably competitive. He can make plays that a lot of people can’t make.

“We know he’s one of those guys you try to limit. You’re not going to take away his opportunities, but you’ve got to try to limit the really good opportunities, because he’s a game changer.”

Celebrini had one goal in two games against the Sabres last season. He was held scoreless in the Sharks’ 4-2 loss to the Sabres in San Jose in Nov. 2024 and had a goal in a 6-2 win in Buffalo in March 2025.

ASKAROV STARTS

Goalie Yaroslav Askarov will start Tuesday when the Sharks open a five-game road trip against the Atlantic Division-leading Sabres, who have won seven straight games and are streaking toward their first playoff appearance since 2011. Sharks general manager Mike Grier was on Buffalo’s roster that year in what was his final NHL season.

Askarov is coming off a 32-save performance in the Sharks’ 2-1 overtime loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday to close a six-game homestand.

In four starts since the Olympic break late last month, Askarov is 2-1-1 with an .885 save percentage, helping the Sharks (30-25-6) enter Tuesday with 66 points, one point behind the Seattle Kraken for the Western Conference’s second wild card spot.

This is Askarov’s first career start against the Sabres.

The Sharks are making one lineup change from Saturday’s loss, re-inserting forward Philipp Kurashev into the lineup with scratching Ryan Reaves. Kurashev was a surprise scratch against the Islanders, but will be back on a line with Alex Wennberg and Kiefer Sherwood.

The Sharks are otherwise keeping the same lines and defense pairs they had on Saturday. Winger Pavol Regenda and defenseman Nick Leddy will be healthy scratches.

The Sharks can move into a playoff spot Tuesday with a win and a Kraken loss to the Nashville Predators. Buffalo, though, is 21-4-1 at home against San Jose all-time, and is 13-2-1 since mid-January.