Celebrini returning after missing 12 games with injury

Macklin Celebrini will be back in the lineup Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky confirmed to Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News.

Celebrini played through a reported hip injury in the season opener (which the Sharks lost to the St. Louis Blues in overtime) and hadn't played since. The 18-year-old forward scored his first NHL goal, added an assist, and played 17:35 in his debut.

The No. 1 pick said Monday that he got hurt on the first shift of the game but didn't want to sit out, per Pashelka. Celebrini added that nothing would prevent him from playing Tuesday, but Warsofsky wouldn't confirm his phenom's return at the time.

San Jose deemed the Boston University standout week-to-week when the club placed him on injured reserve on Oct. 12.

The reigning Hobey Baker Award winner also missed two preseason games after departing an exhibition contest against Utah.

San Jose went 3-8-1 without Celebrini in the lineup. The team lost eight straight after the opener to become the first NHL club ever to start two straight seasons with nine consecutive defeats. However, the Sharks then reeled off three wins in a row before the Vancouver Canucks edged them 3-2 on Saturday.