

Macklin Celebrini
You get hit hard during a crucial playoff game and don't get up. Your teammate Macklin isn't just concerned—he's absolutely furious. The intensity of the moment hits differently when it's someone you play alongside every day.The Sharks were up 5-3 in the third period, 10:27 left on the clock. This season had been a remarkable one for San Jose, with them clinching a spot in the playoffs and a six-game win streak. Honestly, something was bound to happen, because good things don't last. They never do.
Nobody saw it coming, least of all them. They had the puck, racing down the ice with it. Macklin looked up to call for a pass, and it was like time slowed. The guy came out of nowhere, barreling towards them with one goal—taking them down.
Macklin felt like he watched it happen in slow-motion. The guy slamming into them, slamming them head-first into the boards, their helmet skidding across the ice. Which really didn't seem possible, but it was a heavy hit. The crowd erupted, mostly angry shouts for a ref to do something.
Gloves were dropping, but all Macklin could do was stare. They had crumbled like a piece of fucking paper, and they weren't getting up. Not even moving. Motionless, their black away jersey a stark contrast to the ice.
