After a long trip to the East Coast, the San Jose Sharks are returning to the Bay, and they will play tonight against the Detroit Red Wings. After the team from Motown failed to beat the Anaheim Ducks on Friday and the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, the Sharks can make this an abysmal road trip for the Wings tonight. Can the Sharks continue to build and collect two points against their Eastern Conference foe tonight?
With Vitek Vanecek injured in the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Sharks recalled netminder Yaroslav Askarov from the San Jose Barracuda. It's unlikely we'll see him go tonight, but if Vanecek is unable to accompany the team on the upcoming road trip, we may get to see the Russian netminder feature for Team Teal soon. Vanecek has struggled at times this season, so Askarov has a chance to prove he belongs in the Sharks tandem.
Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini started playing together with veteran winger Tyler Toffoli on their other wing. If those two kids can turn up and dominate like they've shown they can against a Detroit roster that leaves a lot to be desired in the defensive zone, they can get on the board and take this game away from the Original Six franchise. There's everything to play for regarding the Sharks getting two points tonight.
Projected Lineups
Detroit Red Wings
Alex DeBrincat - Dylan Larkin - Lucas Raymond
Vladimir Tarasenko - Marco Kasper - Patrick Kane
Andrew Copp - J.T. Compher - Jonatan Berggren
Michael Rasmussen - Joe Veleno - Christian Fischer
Simon Edvinsson - Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot - Jeff Petry
Erik Gustafsson - Justin Holl
Cam Talbot
Alex Lyon
San Jose Sharks
William Eklund - Mikael Granlund - Fabian Zetterlund
Barclay Goodrow - Macklin Celebrini - Will Smith
Ty Dellandrea - Alex Wennberg - Tyler Toffoli
Klim Kostin - Luke Kunin - Carl Grundstrom
Henry Thrun - Cody Ceci
Mario Ferraro - Timothy Liljegren
Jake Walman - Jan Rutta
Mackenzie Blackwood
Yaroslav Askarov
Puck Drop
It's a 7:30 puck drop from the Bay as the Sharks look to get back in the win column after a 1-1-2 road trip. Detroit has lost both games in California so far, so the Sharks will face a team low on confidence. If they can get ahead early, they can demoralize the Red Wings and take control of this game. It won't be easy, but it is doable for a roster that needs the points.