The Sharks will be taking on the Capitals tonight at home. This will be their last home game before a five-game road trip, starting in Dallas on Friday. After a slow start to the season, the Capitals have picked it up, going 8-1-1 over their last 10 and winning five straight games.
The Sharks have some key injury news, both Misa and Skinner close to returning. It does not look like Skinner is going to be activated to play today but it remains a possibility, as for Misa, Warsofsky confirmed he will be going to the AHL for a conditioning stint, this was the expected outcome for Misa who is still adjusting to the pro game, to take advantage of the opportunity to get some development in a more fitting environment for his development. Once he has finished his conditioning stint, the next question is whether the Sharks decide to keep him on the roster or send him to the World Juniors.
On the Injury side of things Vincent Desharnais was placed on IR and is listed as week-to-week leading to a potential longerterm injury for the defender. Desharnais has done well in carving himself out a role on the bottom pair and has helped the Sharks improve their PK, which struggled to start the season. With Desharnais out, the Sharks' logjam of defenders is solved for the time being. Alex Wennberg is listed as probable, it is unknown what is ailing him but there has been an illness seemingly running through the Sharks looker room so it could be related to that.
The Sharks lines are as follows
Toffoli - Celebrini - Smith
Eklund - Wennberg - Gaudette
Kurashev - Dellandrea - Graf
Regenda - Goodrow - Reaves
Orlov - Liljegren
Ferraro - Klingberg
Dickinson - Iorio
Askarov
Scratches: Ostapchuk, Mukhamadullin, Leddy
Presumably, the lines are going to be similar to their last time out, with Ostapchuk potentially drawing in for Wennberg if he can’t go tonight. The lines should be similar to their last time out, with Ostapchuk potentially drawing in for Wennberg if he can’t go tonight. The only change comes on the backend with Mukhamadullin drawing out for Iorio. It’s been a frustrating season for Mukhamadullin, who has been in and out of the lineup, but the young defender needs to be more consistent with his reads as he often finds himself out of position at costly moments. Still he is one of the Sharks more talented defenders in terms of upside when he is on the ice, if he can clean up the miscues he could find last years form that saw him see 20 minutes a night instead of the 16 he is getting this season. Iorio draws in for the 2nd time since his recall from his conditioning stint.
Askarov will be in the net once again, as he looks to have completely overtaken Nedeljkovic as the Sharks' number 1 option in the crease.
The Sharks have a chance to build on what was one of their best games of the year and continue to separate themselves in the Pacific, but they will have a tough test in front of them in the Capitals tonight and will need to be on their A game.