We made it Sharks fans! Game 82 of the season and we’re still standing. We’re still here. This is a meaningless game with no playoff implications or, in the case of the Sharks, no draft implications either. Win or lose, the Sharks are locked into the 32nd spot in the league. That’s right, all that hard work paid off!
Of course, players are playing for their jobs and some personal milestones. For Calgary, forward Nazem Kadri one goal away from another 30–goal season. If Blake Coleman plays, he’ll also have a shot at the 30-goal mark. Mackenzie Weegar has a shot at reaching a 20 goal, 200-plus blocked shots season. All he needs to do is light the lamp one more time.
For the Sharks, Mikael Granlund needs one more point for a 60-point season. The Sharks need one more win to hit 20 wins for the season.
This is the rubber match in the season series. The Sharks won the opening game by a 6-3 score on Feb. 15. The Flames won the second game 3-2 in overtime on April 9.
This also marks a very special night for Bay Area hockey. Gilroy native Dustin Wolf is expected to start in net for the Flames, while Los Gatos native Devin Cooley will be in net for the Sharks.
San Jose Sharks lines for April 18, 2024
According to San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng, no changes to the lineup compared to Monday’s game in Edmonton. Cooley will start again for the Sharks. Here’s what the lines are expected to look like.
Forwards
William Eklund – Mikael Granlund – Fabian Zetterlund
Collin Graf – Luke Kunin – Klim Kostin
Thomas Bordeleau – Jack Studnicka – Daniil Guschin
Givani Smith – Nico Sturm – Ryan Carpenter
Defensemen
Mario Ferraro – Kyle Burroughs
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Jack Thompson
Henry Thrun – Calen Addison
Goaltenders
Devin Cooley
Georgi Romanov
Flames lines vs. Sharks
Here are what the Flames lines are expected to look like, courtesy of the Daily Faceoff.
Forwards
Martin Pospisil – Nazem Kadri – Andrei Kuzmenko
Yegor Sharangovich – Mikael Backlund – Matt Coronato
Jonathan Huberdeau – Connor Zary – Dryden Hunt
Andrew Mangiapane – Kevin Rooney – Adam Klapka
Defensemen
Mackenzie Weegar – Daniil Miromanov
Oliver Kylington – Rasmus Andersson
Ilya Solovyov – Brayden Pachal
Goaltenders
Dustin Wolf
Jacob Markstrom
How to watch Sharks at Flames April 18, 2024
The puck drops at 6 p.m. PT/7 p.m. MT/9 p.m. ET at the Saddledome in Calgary.
Sharks fans can watch on NBCSCA or listen on the Sharks Audio Network, sjsharks.com/listen. Flames fans will find the game on Sportsnet.
Be sure to join us here on Fear the Fin at game time to discuss the game and the pending postseason.