San Jose Sharks rookie Ivar Stenberg scored his first career NHL goal on Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins.
Stenberg’s big moment arrives
The 19-year-old Swedish forward, selected second overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, found the net early in the second period. With the Sharks on the power play at 5:48, Macklin Celebrini spotted Stenberg cutting to the far post.
Celebrini delivered a sharp diagonal pass through the Bruins defense. Stenberg redirected the puck into a nearly empty net past goalie Jeremy Swayman.
The goal tied the game 2-2. Teammates rushed to celebrate the young Swede and made sure to keep the puck as a keepsake from his first NHL tally.
How the goal unfolded
Celebrini controlled the puck on the right side in the offensive zone. He saw Stenberg sneak behind the defense into open space near the far post.
The perfectly weighted pass allowed Stenberg to tip it home with ease. It was the kind of play the highly touted prospect has dreamed about since childhood.
Game context and reaction
The Bruins had taken an early lead but Stenberg’s power-play marker brought the SAP Center crowd to life. Boston later regained the advantage and went on to win the contest. For Stenberg the milestone still stood out as a special night in his young career.
Sharks fans and teammates praised the moment. Stenberg pointed toward Celebrini after the goal in appreciation of the setup. The Swedish rookie had already shown strong playmaking ability in his first few NHL games but the first goal marked a new chapter.
Stenberg continues to earn more responsibility including time on the top power-play unit. His first NHL goal is expected to be the start of many more for the San Jose Sharks.
