San Jose Sharks host the Seattle Kraken as we close in on the all-star break
By Conor Power
Not many games are left before the 2024 NHL all-star game for the San Jose Sharks. They will be looking to ensure they go out on a high with their final two games coming up. The first of those will be tonight against the Seattle Kraken as the NHL's newest team comes to the Shark Tank. The last time these two teams clashed in the Emerald City, the Sharks were on the wrong side of a 7-1 thrashing from their sea counterparts.
This Fish Bowl will give the Sharks a chance to adjust for their loss against the Buffalo Sabres last time out. This is an opponent that doesn't have the same raw scoring power as the Sabres, but they are a much more complete team. This is a team with a structured defense that can cause some problems for the Sharks offense that has had problems this season, but likes to get into end-to-end track meets against their opponents.
San Jose might be without Tomas Hertl tonight who is listed as day-to-day. He was suffering with kidney stones earlier in the year. He did not attend practice after leaving the Sabres game early. In the absence of the Sharks best player, young William Eklund will get a chance to move into the center and try to dictate the game in the most important position on the roster. Logan Couture is expected to slide up to the first line slot to protect Eklund.
Mario Ferraro was moved to the injured reserve after suffering an injury last week. It's yet another player that the Sharks will be missing until at least after the all-star break it seems. Ferraro, Henry Thrun, and Mikael Granlund are all expected to be out until just after the all-star break. However, reinforcements arrive in the form of Jacob MacDonald who was activated from the injured reserve to replace Ferraro.
Projected Lineups
Seattle Kraken
Tomas Tatar - Jared McCann - Jordan Eberle
Jaden Schwartz - Alex Wennberg - Andre Burakovsky
Eeli Tolvanen - Yanni Gourde - Oliver Bjorkstrand
Brandon Tanev - Matty Berniers - Tye Kartye
Vince Dunn - Adam Larsson
Jamie Oleksiak - Will Borgen
Brian Dumoulin - Justin Schultz
Joey Daccord
Philipp Grubayer
San Jose Sharks
Mike Hoffman - Logan Couture - Fabian Zetterlund
Alexander Barabanov - William Eklund - Anthony Duclair
Jacob MacDonald - Nico Sturm - Luke Kunin
Justin Bailey - Ryan Carpenter - Filip Zadina
Shakir Mukhamadullin - Jan Rutta
Nikita Okhotyuk - Calen Addison
Ty Emberson - Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Mackenzie Blackwood
Kaapo Kahkonen
Puck Drop
This will be a 7:30 puck drop from the Shark Tank. As the Sharks look to try and get back in the win column, the two points tonight would help the team continue to build confidence for the future and shake off the doom and gloom of the double digit losing streaks. As the 49ers advance the the Super Bowl, the Sharks will be looking to join in on the winning feeling on the west coast of the USA.