Sharks at Blackhawks (game 67): Lines, game thread and how to watch

No rest for the road weary; the Sharks are back in action today, less than 24 hours after taking the ice in Columbus. San Jose should be raring to go. The sting of the 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Blue Jackets is still fresh in the players’ minds, specifically because it was a winnable game.

This is the second of three meetings between the Sharks and the Blackhawks and the first time the Sharks will have a chance to take the ice against Connor Bedard. Bedard had a broken jaw and could not play when San Jose lost 2-1 in the shootout on Jan. 16. He’s healthy now and ready to lead his team.

Bedard has 51 points in 53 games and has 20 goals this season. For those of you following along, that’s more than any of the Sharks players currently on the roster. Bedard was held off the scoresheet on Friday when the Blackhawks lost to the Los Angeles Kings 5-0. He had a goal and four assists when his team beat the Anaheim Ducks 7-2 on Tuesday.

This game has big implications for the draft standings. Right now, the Sharks are two points behind Chicago in the race for last place. San Jose has 39, while the Blackhawks have 41. Whoever wins has the opportunity to take over the 32nd spot in the league and claim the best draft lottery odds. Given that the Sharks love winning the most shoot-your-own-foot games possible, mark this one down as a regulation W for Team Teal.

San Jose Sharks lines March 17, 2024

We know one thing for certain: Los Gatos native and former Jr. Sharks player Devin Cooley will make his first NHL start for the Sharks today! Congrats to Cooley and his family.

Other than that, we’re guessing on the lines based on yesterday’s game. I moved Klim Kostin up to the top line and sat Alexander Barabanov in favor of Givani Smith simply because Head Coach David Quinn wasn’t happy with Barabanov’s play on Saturday. All of this changes if Mike Hoffman is healthy enough to play today.

The defense stays the same.

Forwards
Alexander Barabanov – Mikael Granlund – Klim Kostin
Filip Zadina – William Eklund – Luke Kunin
Thomas Bordeleau – Nico Sturm – Kevin Labanc
Givani Smith – Ryan Carpenter – Justin Bailey

Defensemen
Mario Ferraro – Calen Addison
Henry Thrun – Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Jacob MacDonald – Kyle Burroughs

Goaltenders
Devin Cooley
Magnus Chrona

Blackhawks lines vs. Sharks

NBC Chicago’s Charlie Roumeliotis had these lines for the Blackhawks during practice yesterday. Sounds like Reese Johnson might miss the game because of concussion protocol.

#Blackhawks lineup at practice:
T. Johnson-Bedard-Kurashev
Blackwell-Dickinson-Anderson
Reichel-Athanasiou-Foligno
Slaggert-Donato-Raddysh

Vlasic-Jones
Korchinski-Megna
Tinordi-Zaitsev

Mrazek
Söderblom

Extra: Entwistle
Out: R. Johnson (concussion protocol)

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 16, 2024

Forwards
Tyler Johnson – Connor Bedard – Philipp Kurashev
Colin Blackwell – Jason Dickinson – Joey Anderson
Lukas Reichel – Andreas Athanasiou – Nick Foligno
Landon Slaggert – Ryan Donato – Taylor Raddysh

Defensemen
Alex Vlasic – Seth Jones
Kevin Korchinski – Jaycob Megna
Jarred Tinordi – Nikita Zaitsev

Goaltenders
Petr Mrazek
Arvid Soderblom

How to watch Sharks at Blackhawks March 17, 2024

You can watch today’s Sharks game on your regularly scheduled NBCSCA or listen live on the Sharks Audio Network through the Sharks’ app.

There’s also ESPN+ or Hulu, though be aware that blackout restrictions may subject you to a few minutes of frustration until you realize that you can’t watch the game the way you had hoped.

Blackhawks fans can watch on NBC Sports Chicago or listen on the radio at WGN 720-AM. There’s also a Spanish broadcast on 1200-AM.

Puck drop is 3 p.m. PT/5 p.m. CT/6 p.m. ET at the United Center in Chicago.

And if you have a moment, drop in and say hi to the other Sharks fans during the game.