Forward Collin Graf will make his NHL debut today, just a few days after signing a three-year entry-level contract with San Jose. Graf was practicing on the second line with William Eklund and Luke Kunin yesterday, so it’s likely that’s where he’ll play today.
Even though the St. Louis Blues are not mathematically of the race, the Sharks can put a huge crimp in their chances today with a win. The Blues are chasing the Los Angeles Kings for the second wild card spot. LA is seven points ahead of St. Louis with six games to play. These are must get points for the Blues.
Shockingly, the Sharks have the ability to sweep the season series with the Blues today. San Jose beat St. Louis 5-1 on Nov. 16. A game in which Kaapo Kahkonen put up 44 saves and Mike Hoffman scored two goals. Then, just last week, Mackenzie Blackwood shutout the Blues with 35 saves. Filip Zadina, Mikael Grandlund, Luke Kunin and Jan Rutta all scored for the Sharks.
It’s those losses to the worst team in the league that have put the Blues in the precarious position of missing the playoffs. The team is 6-3-1 in its last ten and lost to the Nashville Predators on Thursday. Robert Thomas leads the Blues with 75 points. Jake Neighbours has the team lead with 27 goals, though Jordan Kyrou, Pavel Buchnevich and Brandon Saad are close behind with 26 each.
Side note, earlier this week, the Sharks’ PHWA members nominated Justin Bailey for the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy. Nathan Walker was recently named as the Blues’ nominee.
San Jose Sharks lines April 6, 2024
So with Graf in the lineup, someone will need to sit. According to The Daily Faceoff, it’s Mike Hoffman and Kevin Labanc that will watch from the press box once again. Jacob MacDonald finds his way back into the lineup.
Here’s what the lines are expected to look like.
Forwards
Klim Kostin – Mikael Granlund – Fabian Zetterlund
William Eklund – Luke Kunin – Collin Graf
Filip Zadina – Jack Studnicka – Thomas Bordeleau
Jacob MacDonald – Nico Sturm – Justin Bailey
Defensemen
Mario Ferraro – Kyle Burroughs
Henry Thrun – Jan Rutta
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Calen Addison
Goaltenders
Mackenzie Blackwood
Devin Cooley
St. Louis Blues lines vs. San Jose Sharks
On the Blues side of the ice, look for Thomas to center the top line and our old pal Jordan Binnington in net. Here’s how The Daily Faceoff reports the Blues will lineup today.
Forwards
Brandon Saad – Robert Thomas – Jake Neighbours
Alexey Toropchenko – Pavel Buchnevich
How to watch Blues at Sharks April 6, 2024
It’s a day game at SAP, so the puck drops at 3 p.m. PT/5 p.m. CT/6 p.m. ET.
Sharks fans can watch the game on NBCSCA. They can also listen on the Sharks Audio Network, sjsharks.com/listen, Sharks & SAP Center App Presented by Western Digital.
Blues fans can find the game on Bally Sports Midwest Extra or through the Bally Sports app. They can listen on 101 ESPN.
The game is available to everyone on ESPN+ and Hulu, though, as always, blackout restrictions might apply.
If you’re not headed to the game (or even if you are), be sure to check back in here at game time to talk with other Sharks fans.
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