As part of pre-planned play-management for the 19-year-old rookie, Smith will have the night off on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. Smith is averaging 14:01 time-on-ice through his first four NHL games this season, with zero points and a -2 plus/minus rating.
Eklund played 21:45 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars but was unavailable for practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to an upper-body injury. The talented 22-year-old has one point (0G / 1A) in three games and is averaging a massive 22:27 time-on-ice.
Eklund played 21:45 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars but was unavailable for practice on Wednesday due to an upper-body injury and was considered questionable for tonight's game. The talented 22-year-old has one point (0G / 1A) in three games and is averaging a massive 22:27 time-on-ice.
Eklund played 21:45 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars but was unavailable for practice on Wednesday due to an upper-body injury. The talented 22-year-old has one point (0G / 1A) in three games and is averaging a massive 22:27 time-on-ice.
Through three games this season, the Sharks have alternated between Vanecek and Mackenzie Blackwood between the pipes, a trend that will continue on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks when Vanecek occupies the crease. Despite a 2-0 losing effort, Vanecek was terrific in his only start this season, saving 28 of 29 shots (.966 SV%) against the Anaheim Ducks. The Sharks enter action on Thursday as +163 road underdogs against a Blackhawks club that has only scored nine times in their first four games (1-2-1).
Eklund played 21:45 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars but was unavailable for practice on Wednesday due to an upper-body injury. The talented 22-year-old has one point (0G / 1A) in three games and is averaging a massive 22:27 time-on-ice. He is expected to be a game-time decision on Thursday.
Eklund played 21:45 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars but was unavailable for practice on Wednesday due to an upper-body injury. The talented 22-year-old has one point (0G / 1A) in three games and is averaging a massive 22:27 time-on-ice.
Liljegren will make his season debut on Wednesday, sending Conor Timmins to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Liljegren tied a career-high last season with 23 points (3G / 20A) in 55 games.
The Sharks, winless in their first two games (0-1-1), will turn to Blackwood between the pipes for the second time early in the season. Blackwood struggled in his first outing allowing five goals on 40 shots (.875 SV%) in a 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues. The 28-year-old Blackwood had a 3.45 GAA, .899 SV%, and two shutouts in 44 appearances for the Sharks last season (10-25-4). The Sharks enter action on Tuesday as sizeable +294 road underdogs against a Dallas Stars team that has outscored their opposition 9-3 so far this season (3-0-0).
The Sharks, winless in their first two games (0-1-1), will turn to Blackwood between the pipes for the second time early in the season. Blackwood struggled in his first outing allowing five goals on 40 shots (.875 SV%) in a 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues. The 28-year-old Blackwood had a 3.45 GAA, .899 SV%, and two shutouts in 44 appearances for the Sharks last season (10-25-4). The Sharks enter action on Tuesday as sizeable +294 road underdogs against a Dallas Stars team that has outscored their opposition 9-3 so far this season (3-0-0).
Thompson will take Macklin Celebrini's spot on the Sharks roster after he was moved to IR. The 22-year-old defenseman appeared in two NHL games with the Sharks last year, but spent most of the season in the AHL, where he had nine points (1G / 8A) in 16 games.
The Sharks have placed Celebrini on IR and will be without this summer's No.1 overall pick for at least a couple of weeks. This is a terrible break for Celebrini, who had one goal, one assist and two SOG in his NHL debut on Thursday. Mikael Granlund will move up and centre the top line and Klim Kostin will draw into the lineup to replace Celebrini.
Celebrini is battling a lower-body injury and is questionable for Saturday's game against the Anaheim Ducks. Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky would not specify if Celebrini absence is due to a new injury or something that was previously lingering. The 18-year-old Celebrini made his NHL debut on Thursday and recorded two points (1G / 1A) in a 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues.
Yaroslav Askarov missed the entirety of training camp so he will begin the season with the San Jose Baracuda (AHL), leaving Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek to duel it out for the Sharks crease. Blackwood was serviceable last season, especially considering the Sharks ranked 31st offensively with 181 goals, posting a 3.45 GAA and .899 SV% in 44 games (10-25-4). After finishing dead last in the NHL last season, the Sharks should improve this season but still enter their opening night matchup as +140 home underdogs against the St. Louis Blues.
