The Sharks are looking to win four games for the first time in 2 seasons tonight as they take on the Minnesota Wild in the first game of a three-game road trip. The Sharks are also looking to extend what is currently a 6-game point streak to 7 games.
The Sharks are getting a key piece back tonight as William Eklund returns to the lineup after missing the past four games due to an injury.
The Lineup is as follows.
Toffoli - Celebrini - Smith
Kurashev - Wennberg - Eklund
Skinner - Dellandrea - Graf
Goodrow - Gaudette - Reaves
Ferraro - Klingberg
Orlov - Mukhamadullin
Dickinson - Desharnais
Nedeljkovic
Askarov
Scratched: Liljegren, Leddy
Eklund should add a significant boost to the Sharks' offense. The 23-year-old winger has 11 points in 12 games this season and has been a consistent scoring threat for the Sharks all season. The Sharks have been red hot, but they have only scored two goals over the last two games, excluding Wennberg's empty-netter against Florida. Adding Eklund back with Wennberg and Kurashev reunites what was one of the Sharks' best lines this season offensively.
Looking at the defense, Mukhamadullin draws back in for Timothy Liljegren. Liljegren has been excellent this season, so it is interesting that he is the scratch here. The Sharks have a logjam on the back end that has been primarily rotated through at points this season. While Liljegren has played well, the Sharks have also seen solid play from all their blueliners the last couple of games, and given their age, both Dickinson and Mukhamadullin need to be in the lineup as much as possible.
Nedeljkovic will get the nod tonight. His last time out, he only let in 1 goal against the Jets. He looks to continue his strong play tonight against the Wild.
The Sharks and Wild games have been entertaining and explosive over the last couple of meetings. Earlier this season, the Sharks won 6-5 in overtime on a Macklin Celebrini game-winner, while at the end of last season, the Wild got the victory 8-7 in overtime. If that is any indication, expect a high-flying offensive affair tonight.