The Sharks are back in action tonight as they take on the 3-4-1 Rangers at MSG. The Sharks are looking for their first win of the season, while the Rangers have dropped 3 of their last four games.
The Sharks are getting Liljegren back from IR on the backend, but will still be without Muhkhamadullin and Klingberg. The Sharks' lineup is as follows.
Toffoli - Celebrini - Smith
Eklund - Wennberg - Skinner
Graf - Misa - Gaudette
Goodrow - Dellandrea - Reaves
Leddy - Iorio
Orlov - Liljegren
Ferraro - Desharnais
Nedeljkovic
Scratces: Kurashev, Dickinson
The forward lines remain the same from Tuesday against the Islanders. The Sharks put up one of their most consistent performances yesterday, so it makes sense that the lines are getting another go tonight. It’s also nice to see Warsofsky let the group develop more chemistry. Warsofsky has frequently put the forward lines in a blender after games this season.
As for the defense, Liljegren draws in for Sam Dickinson. Warsofsky made clear that Dickinson’s scratch is not performance-based but a development day. He went on to complement Dickinson’s mental toughness against the Islanders.
It has been an up-and-down stint for Dickinson so far. While the downs are evident, there have been tons of positive moments too, and he has been one of the Sharks' better defenders offensively despite not finding the score sheet yet. This is a good time to give him some rest and reset after playing the last five games out of necessity
Nedeljkovic is once again in the crease for the Sharks. While he has been better for the Sharks than Askarov this season, the Sharks need more from him tonight if they're going to win. The goaltending has been an issue early for the Sharks, but it’s early, and Nedeljkovic will look to put those struggles behind him and the Sharks. In the opposing crease will be one of the game's best in Shesterkin, who is expected to start for the Rangers. Further necessitating both Nedeljkovic and the Sharks to be on their A game tonight.