Vanecek was excellent in a losing effort in his last outing, allowing one goal on 32 shots (.969 SV%) in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes but was surprisingly sidelined after with a lower-body injury. Nico Daws has started each game in Vanecek's absence and has done an admirable job filling in between the pipes.
Couture's season to forget earned another chapter last Monday as the center experienced a setback related to his minor groin injury and is now expected to be out week-to-week. The 34-year-old has only been able to appear in six games for the Sharks this season and has an assist, seven SOG, and four PIMs. He will be on Injured Reserve indefinitely.
Thrun has not played since January 23rd due to a shoulder injury, missing the last six games. The 22-year-old Thrun has three points (1G / 2A), 28 shots, and 39 blocks in 23 games this season.
Blackwood will return to the crease for the Sharks on Monday after having the night off on Saturday. The 27-year-old Blackwood is quietly amid an impressive four-game winning streak, allowing three or fewer goals in each and posting a stellar .939 SV%. That said, the Sharks are sizeable +236 home underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Blackwood will return to the crease on Thursday night, his first game since January 30th. The 27-year-old Blackwood has quietly won his last three games, his best streak of the season, allowing three or fewer goals in each contest while posting a stellar .948 SV%. That said, the Sharks are sizeable +275 road underdogs against the Calgary Flames, winners of four of their last five (4-1-0).
Grundstrom played only 3:43 time-on-ice before exiting Tuesday's 7-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres with a lower-body injury. Before his injury, Grundstrom had one point (1G / 0A), eight shots, and 13 hits in his last three games.
Vanecek was excellent in a losing effort over the weekend, allowing one goal on 32 shots (.969 SV%) in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Nico Daws started and won both games in a back-to-back set on Monday and Tuesday and will start between the pipes again on Thursday.
Grundstrom played only 3:43 time-on-ice before exiting Tuesday's 7-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres with a lower-body injury. Before his injury, Grundstrom had one point (1G / 0A), eight shots, and 13 hits in his last three games.
Ferraro has not played since exiting a game on January 22nd with a lower-body injury but appears ready to return to the lineup for the Sharks' Wednesday night contest against the Winnipeg Jets. The 25-year-old had been a key part of San Jose's blue line throughout the year, with his 14 points (1G/13A), 26 PIMs, 79 SOG, and -21 plus/minus.
Couture's season to forget earned another chapter Monday as the center experienced a setback related to his minor groin injury and is now expected to be out week-to-week. The 34-year-old has only been able to appear in six games for the Sharks this season and has an assist, seven SOG, and four PIMs.
Vanecek was excellent in a losing effort over the weekend, allowing one goal on 32 shots (.969 SV%) in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Nico Daws will start between the pipes on Monday night for the Devils, who will likely recall Akira Schmid from the AHL to serve as part of the Devils' tandem while Vanecek is unable to play.
Afanasyev was recalled along with Mark Jankowski on Monday in moves corresponding to Philip Tomasino being reassigned to the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL). Afanasyev was the 45th overall pick of the Predators in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and has been enjoying a terrific season at the AHL level, scoring 42 points (21G / 21A) in 42 games.
Vanecek will start for the third straight game on Thursday night when the Devils host the Calgary Flames. Vanecek was terrific in his last outing, snapping a two-game losing skid by limiting the high-scoring Colorado Avalanche to only three goals on 38 shots (.921 SV%) in a 5-3 victory. The Devils enter action as -137 home favourites despite the Flames carrying momentum from a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.
Gawanke has spent the entirety of the season with the San Jose Baracuda of the AHL, tallying 27 points (8G / 19A) in 38 games. The 24-year-old was the fifth-round pick of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He will return to Germany and will play for Adler Mannheim.
