Get ready for a battle of the worst, though, amazingly, not to the two worst teams you’ll see play this weekend. No, we’ll reserve that pleasure for tomorrow. Today, it’s all about the Columbus Blue Jackets and the San Jose Sharks. The Blue Jackets are eighth in the Metropolitan Division and 29th in the league. Even though Columbus is down here with us little people, it’s still doing okay compared to the Sharks. At least the Blue Jackets have broken that 50 point marker and may even achieve 60 points by the time the season’s complete.
Columbus last played on Thursday, when the team lost to the Ottawa Senators in a shootout. The Blue Jackets have lost the team’s last three games and are hoping to break that streak tonight.
Johnny Gaudreau is the team’s leading scorer with 47 points in 66 games. Meanwhile, Boone Jenner leads the team in goals with 20. Much like the Sharks, the Blue Jackets don’t have a ton of prolific goal scorers. The next two players on the list are Kirill Marchenko and Dmitri Voronkov with 17 goals apiece.
San Jose Sharks lines March 16, 2024
Jacob MacDonald was not healthy enough to play against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night, but the Sharks haven’t recalled anyone from the Barracuda, so it’s likely he’s well enough to play today. The team will not go with the 13-5 configuration again. It sounds like Givani Smith will sit and Kevin Labanc will play.
Magnus Chrona will be back in net for the Sharks today. Devin Cooley is expected to get his first NHL start tomorrow against the Blackhawks.
Forwards
Alexander Barabanov – Mikael Granlund – Fabian Zetterlund
Filip Zadina – William Eklund – Luke Kunin
Thomas Bordeleau – Nico Sturm – Klim Kostin
Kevin Labanc – Ryan Carpenter – Justin Bailey
Defensemen
Mario Ferraro – Kyle Burroughs
Henry Thrun – Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Jacob MacDonald – Calen Addison
Goaltenders
Magnus Chrona
Devin Cooley
Columbus Blue Jackets lines vs. San Jose Sharks
For the Blue Jackets, this is how the Columbus’ website projects the lines will play out.
Forwards
Johnny Gaudreau – Boone Jenner – Alex Nylander
Alexandre Texier – Cole Sillinger – Kirill Marchenko
Trey Fix-Wolansky – Dmitri Voronkov – Mikael Pyyhtia
Mathieu Olivier – Brendan Gaunce – Carson Meyer
Defensemen
Zach Werenski – Erik Gudbrason
Ivan Provorov – Damon Severson
Jake Christiansen – Jake Bean
Goaltenders
Elvis Merzlikins
Daniil Tarasov
How to watch Sharks at Blue Jackets March 16, 2024
If you’re a Sharks fan residing in the Bay Area, you can see the game on NBCSCA. No matter where in the world you live, you can listen through the Sharks Audio Network App.
As for Blue Jackets’ fans, you can watch the game on Bally Sports Ohio or listen on the CBJ radio network which includes 97.1 The Fan. The game is also available through the CBJ App.
Everyone can watch via ESPN+ or Hulu, though blackout restrictions might apply.
The puck drops at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET at Nationwide Arena.
Be sure to come back here to watch the game with other Sharks fans.
As many of you know, Fear the Fin is an independent site run by Sharks fans for Sharks fans. Help keep Fear the Fin independent by contributing to our