Your San Jose Sharks will start a problematic back-to-back tonight with a big game in New Jersey. After four wins in the last six games, the Sharks are still flying high, hoping to build on their recent success. However, tonight's game is at the Prudential Center against the big-spending New Jersey Devils. One of the drastic improvers in the summer, the Devils will be looking to continue their fight to re-enter the postseason.
San Jose will need its young stars to continue leading the fight to take two points from this game. Macklin Celebrini netted twice in the Sharks' defeat against the Minnesota Wild. He's been sensational in his short NHL career, and against a New Jersey team that boasts a dangerous defense, he will need to continue to excel. Celebrini has the talent to win games independently, which could be a great time to flex his potential.
Will Smith is set for a development day, meaning he will not play tonight. Jake Walman is a game-time decision for the Sharks as he works his way back from an injury. He was a healthy scratch a couple of games ago for missing a treatment session, but he's a possibility for tonight. Don't expect him to play both halves of this back-to-back as the defenseman continues to fight back. He's been excellent to start the season, so let him get back to his best.
Projected Lineups
San Jose Sharks
Ty Dellandrea - Macklin Celebrini - Tyler Toffoli
William Eklund - Mikael Granlund - Fabian Zetterlund
Barclay Goodrow - Alex Wennberg - Luke Kunin
Givani Smith - Nico Sturm - Carl Grundstrom
Jake Walman - Cody Ceci
Mario Ferraro - Timothy Liljegren
Henry Thrun - Jan Rutta
Mackenzie Blackwood
Vitek Vanecek
New Jersey Devils
Timo Meier - Nico Hischier - Dawson Mercer
Ondrej Palat - Jack Hughes - Jesper Bratt
Paul Cotter - Erik Haula - Stefan Noesen
Kurtis MacDermid - Justin Dowling - Tomas Tatar
Brenden Dillon - Dougie Hamilton
Jonas Siegenthaler - Johnathan Kovacevic
Luke Hughes - Brett Pesce
Jacob Markstrom
Jake Allen
Puck Drop
Can the Sharks continue their recent success and pick up a fifth win in their last seven games? San Jose's scoring can cause problems for this Devils roster, and the two former Devils netminders the Sharks boast will look to haunt the Rock they once called home. New Jersey is dangerous, but Blackwood shut the Devils down last season when these two teams played in Jersey.