Kaapo Kahkonen News

Kahkonen will tend the twine on Wednesday when the Sharks play their first game in two weeks. The 27-year-old Kahkonen played well in the Sharks last contest on January 31st, allowing three goals on 34 shots (.912 SV%) in a 3-2 losing effort in overtime. The low-scoring Sharks (2.08 GF / GP) will be without leading scorer Tomas Hertl (knee) for the foreseeable future, adding to their scoring woes. The Sharks are significant +374 road underdogs against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night.

On the back end of a back-to-back, the Sharks will turn to Kahkonen after Mackenzie Blackwood had a 32-save shutout in the Sharks' 2-0 win over the Seattle Kraken last night. Kahkonen last played on January 27th, allowing four goals on 35 shots (.886 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. The Sharks are +162 road underdogs against a rested Ducks team with points in three straight (2-0-1).

The Sharks' goaltending revolving door will continue Saturday as Kaapo Kahkonen will get the start vs. Buffalo after backing up in San Jose's previous game. The 27-year-old has played very well despite the roster in front of him, which has led to an unfortunate 6-13-1 record, 3.56 GAA and .902 SV%. He'll take on the Sabres at home Saturday, who just snapped a two-game losing streak with a victory over Los Angeles last game and are 23rd in the NHL in goals per game (2.94).

The Sharks will turn to back to Kahkonen on Monday after Mackenzie Blackwood got the call in each of their previous two games. Kahkonen allowed just two goals on 34 shots his last time out but was still saddled with the loss as the Sharks were shutout by the Sabres. He has lost seven straight decisions in regulation, despite posting an admirable .908 SV% over that span. He'll have a hard time breaking that streak on Monday with the Sharks being +310 underdogs against the Kings.

Kahkonen hasn't played since allowing four goals on 20 shots (.800 SV%) in a 7-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs last week, his only start in the last five for the Sharks. He will return to the crease on Monday afternoon as the Sharks are +228 road underdogs against a Buffalo Sabres team that was shutout 1-0 against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.

Kahkonen did not play in Saturday's 4-1 home loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs but will tend the twine on Tuesday in a rematch in Toronto. The Sharks are riding an 11-game losing streak, failing to record a point in each contest (0-11-0), and, as such, are sizeable +379 road favourites against the Maple Leafs, who have won three straight, outscoring their competition 9-2.

Kahkonen is winless in his last six appearances but will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. Despite a 0-5-0 record, Kahkonen has allowed three or fewer goals in four of his last five outings and has posted a respectable .923 SV%. That said, the Sharks are +161 home underdogs on Tuesday against the Red Wings, who have lost three of their last four games (1-3-0).

Kahkonen is winless in his last six appearances but is expected to return to the crease on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. Despite a 0-5-0 record, Kahkonen has allowed three or fewer goals in four of his last five outings and has posted a respectable .923 SV%. That said, the Sharks are +161 home underdogs on Tuesday against the Red Wings, who have lost three of their last four games (1-3-0).

With Mackenzie Blackwood out of the lineup due to illness, the Sharks will turn to Kahkonen on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. Despite failing to record a victory, Kahkonen has played very well in his last two outings, allowing only four goals on 62 combined shots (.935 SV%). That said, the Sharks are significant +294 road underdogs against the Kings, who will turn back to David Rittich, who limited the Sharks to one goal in a 4-1 loss last week.

Kahkonen will return to the crease on Tuesday when the Sharks face off against the Los Angeles Kings. In his last outing, Kahkonen saved 23 of 24 shots (.958 SV%) but was unvictorious in a 1-0 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. The Sharks have lost two straight, being outscored 7-2, and are sizeable +228 home underdogs against a Kings team that has lost three of their last four (1-2-1) and will turn to David Rittich between the pipes for the first time this season.

Kahkonen will likely return to the crease on Tuesday when the Sharks face off against the Los Angeles Kings. In his last outing, Kahkonen saved 23 of 24 shots (.958 SV%) but was unvictorious in a 1-0 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. The Sharks have lost two straight, being outscored 7-2, and are sizeable +228 home underdogs against a Kings team that has lost three of their last four (1-2-1) and will turn to David Rittich between the pipes for the first time this season.

Kahkonen has seen a steady dose of action lately and will start for the fourth time in the last eight games for the Sharks. The Sharks have points in four straight games (3-0-1), and Kahkonen has won four of his last five games (4-0-1), highlighted by a .904 SV%. The Sharks remain the league-worst in terms of shot suppression (36.7 SA / GP) but are still +171 road underdogs against the Arizona Coyotes, who have lost four straight (0-4-0).

Kahkonen has settled into his role as the Sharks' backup goaltender this season, with three quality starts in his last four outings, and will start on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. Kahkonen is riding consecutive wins for the first time this season and has saved 74 of the last 80 shots he has faced (.925 SV%). The Sharks and Kahkonen face off against the sixth-worst offence in the league (2.78 GF / GP) but are still considerable +279 road underdogs against the Islanders.

Kahkonen and the Sharks have been much better of late but will be tested on Friday against the New Jersey Devils, who have won three straight, outscoring their opposition 16-9. Kahkonen has won two of his last three starts, including a heroic 44-save performance in a 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Blue on November 16th. That said, Kahkonen could play the game of his life and still come up short, as the Sharks are massive +401 road underdogs against the Devils. The Sharks and Devils are both playing back ends of a back-to-back, the Sharks having lost 3-0 to the Boston Bruins last night while the Devils were victorious 4-3 over the Philadelphia Flyers.

San Jose will continue to shuffle their goals as Kaapo Kahkonen makes his third start in five games Saturday vs. Vancouver. It has been yet another horrendous season in San Jose for the 27-year-old, who is 1-6-0 with a 4.30 GAA and .887 SV%. He takes on the offensive juggernauts that are the Vancouver Canucks, who have won two of their last three games and lead the NHL in goals per game (4.05).

Kahkonen is coming off his first victory of the season, a heroic 44-save effort (.978 SV%) in a 5-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. Despite a horrendous 3.86 GAA, Kahkonen has an impressive 50% quality start rate through seven appearances this season (1-5-0). Expect another busy night for Kahkonen as the Sharks allow a league-worst 38.3 shots on goal per game and are +246 road favourites against a Seattle Kraken team that has points in four straight contests (2-0-2).

Kahkonen will start for the seventh time this season as he searches for his first victory. Paralleling most of the season from the San Jose Sharks, Kahkonen's play has not been NHL-caliber, posting an unsightly 4.44 GAA and .875 SV%. Expectations remain low for Kahkonen and the Sharks as they are +188 home underdogs against a St. Louis Blues team that is suddenly firing on all cylinders, winning five of their last six (5-1-0), outscoring their opposition 27-12.