G2: WPG (1-0-0) @ SJ (1-0-0)
Update 2pmET: Alex Stalock named starter for tonight's game.
Both the Jets and the Sharks will be looking to continue a winning start to the season tonight at the SAP Center in San Jose. Here's a few thoughts for tonight:
- The Sharks are playing one of their five home games in the first quarter of the season tonight against the Winnipeg Jets. Evander Kane won’t be in the lineup for Winnipeg taking away a huge offensive threat against the Sharks. Even with Kane this is a game the Sharks are expected to win and with the schedule as road heavy as it is it’s one they have to come away from with two points.
- Eriah Hayes was placed on waivers yesterday by the Sharks, and cleared today, but no one is expected to come back from IR just yet. It was a move highly anticipated to make room for Barclay Goodrow coming back to reunite with his pre-season linemates Tierney and Wingels on the third line. When Goodrow does come back it will be a significant boost to the bottom six, allowing McGinn to slide back to the fourth line with Desjardins while Burish or Brown watch from the booth.
- Staying with the expectation that no players are coming off IR just yet, the Sharks lines for tonight’s games should look like they did against LA on Wednesday.
Hertl-Thornton-Pavelski Marleau-Couture-Nieto McGinn-Tierney-Wingels Burish-Desjardins-Brown
Vlasic-Braun Mueller-Burns Hannan-Demers
- Antti Niemi’s shutout in game one should earn him the nod against the Jets for momentum sake, but Alex Stalock can't be ruled out to start yet. Niemi, if he's in, should be able to gain his composure a bit quicker against a lesser offense which could mean another solid performance. The goalie competition is alive and well early and it doesn’t seem as though Niemi is ready to hand the keys to the cage over without a fight.
- Whoever draws the coverage of Bryan Little will have their work cut out for them but it will leave the other top line open for business. The Sharks offense, should they get a quick start, has the chance to overload and chase Ondrej Pavelec much like they did Jonathan Quick.
- I’d like to see Brent Burns on the ice whenever Dustin Byfuglien is out there in case the Jets fitness guru finds himself in front of the Sharks net. A Burns-Byfuglien matchup would be an entertaining battle and it’s also the most size appropriate counter available.
- It will be interesting to see who is the odd alternate out if Marc-Eduoard Vlasic rotates in tonight. The dramatic answer? Thornton. The right decision? Pavelski. 19/12 got letters back because of the respect they have in the room and I just can't see them being rotated out of the role.
Milestone Watch: Patrick Marleau moved to five assists away from 500 after the LA game. Joe Thornton is still six points away from 1200 on his career.
Other Notes:
- Nikolay Goldobin played in his first Liiga game yesterday with HIFK. The Sharks young star had a goal and set up the game winner as HIFK downed TPS Turku 5-4. Goldobin saw 15:58 TOI in the game as well. HIFK's next game is on Wednesday. http://liiga.fi is the Liiga website if you want to track Goldobin beyond what you catch here.
- Logan Couture revealed his disappointment in not receiving an ‘A’ when they were handed out. Of course he’s going to be disappointed; he’s a top player on this team and he’s looked at to lead via his two-way play. Whether it’s this year, next year or the year after, Couture will get his chance to wear a letter in San Jose. Thornton and Marleau have a expiration dates.
- Tommy Wingels is on pace for 164 goals, though he might come up just a tad short.
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