San Jose Sharks complete back-to-back set with a game against the Calgary Flames
By Conor Power
It was a bitter defeat last night. Kaapo Kahkonen started to cramp up at the end of the game but is reportedly okay, Nico Strum took a vicious hit and there's no news on him, and the San Jose Sharks were already without the services of Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl. Injuries have plagued this team to an extraordinary level this season, and the Sharks will be tasked with finding a way to overcome them tonight in Calgary.
Mackenzie Blackwood will get the nod tonight after Kahkonen's sparkling performance last night. The goaltenders on this team have been the only bright spot for many fans. They've dazzled all season long, and the base stats do not do them justice with the on-slaught they have faced from teams that outclass the skating core in front of them. Both netminders need to hold their heads up high for this campaign.
According to David Quinn, Henry Thrun and Givani Smith, who missed yesterday's game with an injury, are possibilities for tonight. Nico Sturm is expected to be alright and ready to go after being dropped onto the back of his head yesterday by Logan Stanley. He left the game holding the back of his helmet, but seems to be no worse for wear the this time. Any late changes aside, the German will play.
Projected Lineups
San Jose Sharks
Anthony Duclair - Mikael Granlund - Fabian Zetterlund
Alexander Barabanov - William Eklund - Luke Kunin
Jacob MacDonald - Nico Sturm - Mike Hoffman
Filip Zadina - Ryan Carpenter - Justin Bailey
Mario Ferraro - Jan Rutta
Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Ty Emberson
Kyle Burroughs - Calen Addison
Mackenzie Blackwood
Kaapo Kahkonen
Calgary Flames
Jonathan Huberdeau - Yegor Sharangovich - Andrei Kuzmenko
Connor Zary - Nazem Kadri - Martin Pospisil
Andrew Mangiapane - Mikael Backlund - Blake Coleman
Cole Schwindt - Kevin Rooney - Walker Duehr
MacKenzie Weegar - Rasmus Andersson
Noah Hanifin - Chris Tanev
Oliver Kylington - Brayden Pachal
Dustin Wolf
Jacob Markstrom
Puck Drop
As the San Jose Sharks look to forget about their loss last night against Winnipeg. A good performance tonight and a few goals are all we can ask for, as this Sharks team is still rebuilding. It's just something to increase the trade values of the players involved here. We know that the Sharks are not likely to win, especially without Hertl and Couture—just a few goals for the first time since the all-star break would be nice.