The San Jose Sharks will host the Chicago Blackhawks tonight in a scary showdown between two of the worst teams in the NHL. The last time these two teams played, Chicago won the game 4-2 just a few weeks ago.
While we still won’t get to see a matchup between Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini, there is some good news on the Celebrini front. The young forward was on the ice with the Sharks this morning, as seen in this video from The Mercury News’ Curtis Pashelka.
Macklin Celebrini moving around pretty well, it seems, this morning pic.twitter.com/Z6c0HGLueD
— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) October 31, 2024
While Celebrini is skating, it does not mean that he’ll be back with the team anytime soon. It sounds like the Sharks are going to wait to see how things go before making a decision to bring him back. Understandably, the team is being very cautious with the hip injury.
In addition to being without Celebrini, the Sharks will also play without Matt Benning tonight. In case you missed it, Benning was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Timothy Liljegren yesterday. While Liljegren is in San Jose, don’t expect to see him in the lineup for the Sharks tonight. It sounds like they’re letting him get acclimated first.
San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng reports there are no work visa issues in this case and Liljegren is ready to go when Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky is ready to put him in.
While the Sharks have two wins in a row and would like to make it three tonight, Chicago is also looking to string together some W’s. The team beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Monday night and will go for two in a row tonight.
As expected, Chicago is 3-6-1 this season and is in last place in the Central Division.
San Jose Sharks lines for Oct. 31, 2024
Here are the expected lines according to San Jose Hockey Now’s Peng. Look for Mackenzie Blackwood in net.
It looks like Will Smith is playing tonight.
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 31, 2024
No Liljegren (or Celebrini) yet.#SJSharks lines at morning skate:
Eklund-Granlund-Toffoli
Gushchin-Wennberg-Zetterlund
Kunin-W. Smith-Goodrow
Grundstrom-Sturm-Cardwell
Walman-Ceci
Ferraro-Rutta
Thrun-Thompson
Forwards
William Eklund – Mikael Granlund – Tyler Toffoli
Danil Gushchin – Alex Wennberg – Fabian Zetterlund
Barclay Goodrow – Will Smith – Luke Kunin
Carl Grundstrom – Nico Sturm – Ethan Cardwell
Defense
Jake Walman – Cody Ceci
Mario Ferraro – Jan Rutta
Henry Thrun – Jack Thompson
Goaltenders
Mackenzie Blackwood
Vitek Vanecek
Chicago Blackhawks lines against the Sharks
According to Sun Times beat reporter Ben Pope, this is what the lines are expected to look like for the Blackhawks tonight.
Blackhawks lines in warmups vs. Avalanche:
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) October 29, 2024
Kurashev-Bedard-Teravainen
Hall-Foligno-Bertuzzi
Mikheyev-Dickinson-Donato
Maroon-Reichel-Smith
Kaiser-Jones
Vlasic-Murphy
Allan-Brodie
Mrazek
There are a few changes compared to the last time these two teams met. For example, Nick Foligno is now expected to center the second line. What’s more, former Shark Ryan Donato is expected to play. And the defensive pairings have been switched up.
Look for Petr Mrazek in net once again.
Forwards
Philipp Kurashev – Connor Bedard – Teuvo Teravainen
Taylor Hall – Nick Foligno – Tyler Bertuzzi
Ilya Mikheyev – Jason Dickinson – Ryan Donato
Patrick Maroon – Lukas Reichel – Craig Smith
Defense
Wyatt Kaiser – Seth Jones
Alex Vlasic – Connor Murphy
Nolan Allan – TJ Brodie
Goaltenders
Petr Mrazek
Arvid Soderblom
How to watch Chicago Blackhawks at San Jose Sharks tonight
Tonight’s game will be on NBC Sports California for Sharks fans. You can also listen on the Sharks Audio Network via the Sharks app if you’re out trick or treating.
Chicago fans can catch the game on CHSN. Our friends at Second City Hockey provided this How to Watch link.
If you’re out of market, there’s also ESPN+ as an option.
The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. PT/9:30 p.m. CT.