Blue Jackets at Sharks: Lines, open thread and how to watch

It’s a battle for the bottom. The San Jose Sharks sit at 31st in the NHL this morning. The only team with a worse record is the visiting team, the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Sharks are in the midst of a three game losing streak, only to be bested by the team below San Jose in the standings, the Blue Jackets, which have lost four in a row.

Consider this your Tank update.

As of noon on March 14, 2023, the Sharks have 50 points to the Blue Jackets’ 47. San Jose has the advantage in the tank standings since it has played two more games than Columbus, but a loss tonight would be a big boost for either team.

The Chicago Blackhawks remain tied with the Sharks in points but have that game in hand. The Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes are pulling away from the basement dwellers. The Ducks are now four points up on the Sharks and Blackhawks, while the Coyotes have jumped to 27th in the league, adding a new horse to the tank race, the Montreal Canadiens.

As for game time, be on the lookout for Kevin Labanc receiving some power play time. Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reported that Labanc was getting some time on the PP2.

Labanc power play sighting: He’s on PP2 with MacDonald-Pouliot-Johnsson-Zetterlund

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 13, 2023

This is the second time these two teams will meet this season. Last time, the Blue Jackets won 5-3.

San Jose Sharks

STATS

Record: 19-36-12
Streak: L3
Goals Leader: Logan Couture (23 G, 32 A)
Assists Leader: Erik Karlsson (20 G, 64 A)
Power Play: 18.1%
Penalty Kill: 82.4%
Goals For/60: 2.87
Goals Against/60: 3.75

LINES
(Per dailyfaceoff.com)

William Eklund – Tomas Hertl – Fabian Zetterlund
Andreas Johnsson – Logan Couture – Alexander Barabanov
Noah Gregor – Nico Sturm – Evgeny Svechnikov
Kevin Labanc – Steven Lorentz – Oskar Lindblom

Nikolai Knyzhov – Erik Karlsson
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Matt Benning
Mario Ferraro – Derrick Pouliot

Kaapo Kahkonen
James Reimer

Expected Scratches: None

Injured Reserve: Luke Kunin (knee), Markus Nutivaara (lower body), Jonah Gadjovich (upper body), Radim Simek (upper body), Jacob MacDonald (undisclosed)

Columbus Blue Jackets

STATS

Record: 20-38-7
Streak: L4
Goals Leader: Patrick Laine (21 G, 23 A)
Assists Leader: Johnny Gaudreau (15 G, 42 A)
Power Play: 18.0%
Penalty Kill: 76.5%
Goals For/60: 2.51
Goals Against/60: 3.72

LINES
(Per NHL.com)

Johnny Gaudreau — Boone Jenner — Emil Bemstrom
Kirill Marchenko — Jack Roslovic — Patrick Laine
Eric Robinson — Cole Sillinger — Kent Johnson
Liam Foudy — Lane Pederson — Mathieu Olivier

Tim Berni — Erik Gudbranson
Nick Blankenburg — Andrew Peeke
Gavin Bayreuther — Adam Boqvist

Daniil Tarasov
Michael Hutchinson

Expected Scratches: Sean Kuraly (oblique), Elvis Merzlikins (family matter)

Injured Reserve: Jake Bean (shoulder), Justin Danforth (shoulder), Zach Werenski (shoulder)

How to watch

Today’s game will be broadcast regionally on NBCSCA. Streaming is available with a subscription to ESPN+ (blackout restrictions may apply). The radio call will be streamed through the Sharks Audio Network. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET at SAP Center in San Jose.

In Columbus, you can watch on Bally Sports Ohio.

Check back then to follow along with all of the play-by-play action in the comment section below!