For the first time this season, the 2023 first-overall pick and the 2024 first-overall pick will square off on the ice. The Chicago Blackhawks visit the San Jose Sharks tonight in a showdown that will focus on two of the NHL’s young rising stars — Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini. Bedard is in the middle of what could be called a sophomore slump of a season. The 19-year-old has 52 points in 65 games this season compared to last season’s 61 points in 68 games. Celebrini is on a better pace than Bedard this season with 48 points in 54 games.
This is the third and final meeting between the two teams this season. They played two games in October while Celebrini was recovering from an injury. The Blackhawks won the Oct. 17 game 4-2 but lost the Oct. 31 game 3-2.
Despite a “down” season, Bedard leads the Blackhawks with his 52 points. Teuvo Teravainen is close behind with 50 points. Ryan Donato is the team’s leading goal scorer with 23.
In the net, Arvid Soderblom has had a majority of the starts for the Blackhawks this season. He is 8-15-7 with a 3.05 goals against average, but a respectable .905 save percentage. Spencer Knight, who was acquired from the Florida Panthers near the trade deadline is expected to start tonight. Knight has a 14-9-1 record with a 2.35 goals against average and a .912 save percentage.
San Jose Sharks lines against the Blackhawks tonight
For the Sharks, Alexandar Georgiev is expected to start in the net again. Look for him to try and erase the demons from the mishandled puck on Tuesday night. In the meantime, newly acquired Noah Gregor will be in the lineup tonight. He’ll be wearing #9, according to San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng, since Tyler Toffoli wears Gregor’s old Sharks number.
Here’s what the lines are expected to look like tonight.
Forwards
William Eklund — Macklin Celebrini — Tyler Toffoli
Collin Graf — Alexander Wennberg — Will Smith
Nikolai Kovalenko — Ty Dellandrea — Klim Kostin
Barclay Goodrow — Patrick Giles — Noah Gregor
Defense
Mario Ferraro — Shakir Mukhmamadullin
Jimmy Schuldt — Vincent Desharnais
Marc-Edouard Vlasic — Timothy Liljegren
Goaltenders
Alexandar Georgiev
Georgi Romanov
Chicago Blackhawks lines vs. San Jose Sharks
Defenseman Artyon Levshunov will play tonight. He made his NHL debut on Monday in Colorado, so be on the lookout for a potential first NHL goal scorer.
Here’s what NHL.com reports the lines might look like tonight for the Blackhawks.
Forwards
Colton Dach — Connor Bedard — Jason Dickinson
Teuvo Teravainen — Ryan Donato — Ilya Mikheyev
Landon Slaggert — Frank Nazar — Nick Foligno
Lukas Reichel — Joe Veleno — Tyler Bertuzzi
Defense
Alex Vlasic — Wyatt Kaiser
Ethan Del Mastro — Connor Murphy
Alec Martinez — Artyom Levshunov
Goaltenders
Spencer Knight
Arvid Soderblom
How to watch Chicago Blackhawks at San Jose Sharks March 13, 2025
Sharks fans can watch the game on NBC Sports California or listen on the Sharks Audio Network.
Blackhawks fans can watch on CHSN+ or listen on WGN-720 AM or through the Blackhawks app.
The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. PT/9:30 p.m. CT at SAP Center.
