The San Jose Sharks are poised to face off against the Minnesota Wild in a highly anticipated NHL matchup. This game marks the first of a three-game road trip for the Sharks, who will visit the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Game Preview: Sharks vs. Wild
The Sharks return to action after a brief lull, ready to regain momentum. They welcome back forward William Eklund, who has been sidelined due to a lower-body injury since November 1. Eklund is expected to join the second line alongside Alex Wennberg and Philipp Kurashev. His return comes at the expense of Ethan Cardwell, who has been reassigned to the Barracuda, allowing Eklund to take his place.
Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky faced a tough decision regarding the defensive lineup. Vincent Iorio has been sent to the Barracuda for a conditioning assignment as he hasn’t seen game time recently. Timothy Liljegren and Nick Leddy will also sit out tonight’s game due to Liljegren’s inconsistent performance.
Recent Meeting and Team Performance
This matchup is the second clash between the Sharks and the Wild this season. The previous encounter on October 26 resulted in a thrilling 6-5 victory for the Sharks, where both Macklin Celebrini and Eklund stood out with three points each.
Currently, the Wild are struggling with their season, holding a record of 7-7-3, which places them sixth in the Central Division. Leading the team is Kirill Kaprizov, who has accumulated 22 points and ten goals so far. Second in scoring is Matt Boldy with 17 points.
Goaltending Situation
| Player | Record | Save Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Filip Gustavsson | 4-7-1 | .896 |
| Jesper Wallstedt | 3-0-2 | .909 |
Jesper Wallstedt, who had previously started against the Sharks, is expected to be in goal for the Wild tonight. Meanwhile, for the Sharks, Alex Nedeljkovic is projected to start, coming off the ice first during the morning skate.
Projected Lineups
San Jose Sharks
- Tyler Toffoli — Macklin Celebrini — Will Smith
- William Eklund — Alexander Wennberg — Philipp Kurashev
- Collin Graf — Ty Dellandrea — Jeff Skinner
- Barclay Goodrow — Adam Gaudette — Ryan Reaves
- Mario Ferraro — John Klingberg
- Dmitry Orlov — Shakir Mukhamadullin
- Sam Dickinson — Vincent Desharnais
Minnesota Wild
- Kirill Kaprizov — Marco Rossi — Mats Zuccarello
- Matt Boldy — Joel Eriksson Ek — Marcus Johansson
- Vladimir Tarasenko — Ryan Hartman — Vinnie Hinostroza
- Marcus Foligno — Danila Yurov — Yakov Trenin
- Jonas Brodin — Jared Spurgeon
- Zeev Buium — Brock Faber
- Daemon Hunt — David Jiříček
Viewing Information
The game is set to commence at 5 p.m. PT/7 p.m. CT. Fans can catch the live action on ESPN+ or Hulu. If you do not have access to these streaming platforms, the Sharks Audio Network offers an audio feed. Wild fans can tune in on KFAN for commentary throughout the game.
As the Sharks and Wild clash, anticipate another exciting chapter in their ongoing rivalry. Join us for live updates and discussions during the game!
