San Jose Sharks News

Thrun is battling an undisclosed ailment and his status for Tuesday's game against the Nashville Predators is up in the air. The 23-year-old defenseman has been a regular on San Jose's blue line this season, tallying eight points (0G / 8A) in 40 games this season.

Nikolai Kovalenko (upper body) will make his return from a five-game absence, resulting in Grundstrom being a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old Grundstrom has five points (1G / 4A) in 33 games this season.

Kovalenko has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on January 7th, missing five straight, but will re-enter the lineup on Tuesday against the Nashville Predators. The 25-year-old Kovalenko has 14 points (5G / 9A) in 40 games this season. Carl Grundstrom will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Kovalenko's return.

The Sharks have lost three straight and attempt to change their fortunes on Tuesday against the Nashville Predators, turning to Georgiev between the pipes. Georgiev allowed four goals on 31 shots (.871 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders. The 28-year-old netminder has a 3.56 GAA and .888 SV% in 10 games with the Sharks (2-8-0). The Sharks enter Tuesday's contest as significant +327 road underdogs against a Predators club riding a three-game winning streak.

Granlund is battling a lower-body injury but will play against the Boston Bruins on Monday. The 32-year-old Granlund is averaging 21:01 time-on-ice and has 37 points (12G / 25A) in 46 games this season.

Liljegren did not play on Saturday due to an illness but will return to the lineup on Monday against the Boston Bruins. The 25-year-olse Liljegren is averaging 18:15 time-on-ice and has four points (4G / 4A) in 35 games this season. Marc-Edouard Vlasic will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Liljegren's return.

Vlasic has been used sparingly since making his season debut at the beginning of the month, and will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Boston Bruins. The veteran defenseman is averaging 14:04 time-on-ice and has two assists in five games this season.

Alexandar Georgiev was between the pipes for the last three Sharks games (1-2-0), but the club will revert to Askarov on Monday afternoon against the Boston Bruins. Askarov saved 19 of 22 shots (.864 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild. The 22-year-old Askarov has a 2.39 GAA and .917n SV% in eight NHL games this season (3-3-2). The Sharks enter Monday's contest as +214 road underdogs against a Bruins squad with points in three straight (2-0-1).

Kovalenko has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on January 7th, missing five straight games. The 25-year-old Kovalenko has 14 points (5G / 9A) in 40 games this season.