Your San Jose Sharks are hot. Mackenzie Blackwood's shutout against his former club means five wins in seven for Team Teal. They will look to continue their good results as they complete this back-to-back by taking on the Philadelphia Flyers. Knowing that a win will move the Sharks up to the dizzying heights of 24th overall in the NHL, San Jose has a shot to prove they are a threat to take wins, even when tired.
After the superhuman efforts of Mackenzie Blackwood last night, Vitek Vanecek is set to face the Flyers. Vanecek has been hot and cold in his starting time with the Sharks, so let's hope it's more of the hot than the cold, and he can pick up another win on the year tonight against a Flyers team that is going through its growing pains. San Jose will need Vitek to be good for two points tonight.
Philly is set to bring Russian rookie Matvei Michkov back into the lineup. San Jose passed on him in the 2023 NHL entry draft to select Will Smith, who is also likely to return to the fray for Team Teal. If Smith can win the battle of these two youngsters, the Sharks will be in a great position to snag the win and continue to put up points in situations they aren't expected to. It could be a big night for these kids.
Projected Lineups
San Jose Sharks
Mikael Granlund - Macklin Celebrini - Tyler Toffoli
William Eklund - Alex Wennberg - Fabian Zetterlund
Barclay Goodrow - Will Smith - Luke Kunin
Carl Grundstrom - Nico Sturm - Ty Dellandrea
Henry Thrun - Cody Ceci
Mario Ferraro - Timothy Liljegren
Jack Thompson - Jan Rutta
Vitek Vanecek
Mackenzie Blackwood
Philadelphia Flyers
Owen Tippett - Sean Couturier - Travis Konecny
Joel Farabee - Scott Laughton - Bobby Brink
Anthony Richard - Ryan Poehling - Matvei Michkov
Tyson Foerster - Noah Cates - Garnet Hathaway
Emil Andrae - Travis Sanheim
Nick Seeler - Rasmus Ristolainen
Egor Zamula - Erik Johnson
Samuel Errson
Ivan Fedotov
Puck Drop
A 4 p.m. puck drop from the City of Brotherly Love will see the Sharks and Flyers play. San Jose will look to double their win total on the road trip so far after beating the Devils. Can the Sharks make it six wins in eight and build on a great two weeks for the organization? Or will they lose and let the Flyers jump them in the standings.