The Sharks will be in action tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights in their last action before the Christmas break. They will look to snap a two-game losing streak and head into the holidays on a high note.
The Sharks got various updates on some key injuries yesterday. Will Smith, who has been out of action since December 13th with a shoulder injury, is week-to-week and will be reevaluated after the New Year. While this is not the best news, it doesn't sound like Smith will need surgery. Timothy Liljegren has also been listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury that the defender sustained in practice and will not be in action tonight against Vegas.
The Sharks also got a scare when Collin Graf left practice bloodied after taking a puck to the face. Graf got stitches but will be good to go for tonight's game. Graf has done a good job over the past week in Smith’s absence on the top line and would have been a significant blow to the Sharks if he needed to miss time. Thankfully, he is ok.
The Sharks' projected lineup.
Graf - Celebrini - Chernyshov
Eklund - Wennberg - Toffoli
Skinner - Dellandrea - Cardwell
Goodrow - Ostapchuk - Reaves
Orlov - Klingberg
Ferraro - Mukhamadullin
Dickinson - Leddy
Askarov
Based on how the lines looked at practice yesterday, this is how I expect the lineup to look tonight. The most significant change upfront is Cardwell coming in for Gaudette. Chernyshov will get another shot on the top line. The 20-year-old has been very impressive with three assists in 3 games and has had some great looks for his first goal; it’s only a matter of time. With how he has played, it’s hard to see the Sharks sending him down when they are fully healthy.
On defense, Leddy should come in for Iorio on the third pair with Dickinson. The Sharks officially announced they won’t be lending the 19-year-old to Canada for the WJC this year. While the defenseman has struggled at times, he is a top-6 caliber piece on a team competing for the playoffs right now.
Askarov is expected to get the start in goal.
A Sharks win against Vegas would be a great early Christmas gift for Sharks fans, but even so, they have exceeded most fans' expectations to this point of the year, and their being in the hunt before the holidays is an excellent gift in itself.