Injuries have become a big issue for the San Jose Sharks as the team enters UBS Arena tonight to play the New York Islanders. The Sharks added two more players to the injured reserve list on Monday – Ryan Carpenter and Ty Emberson. Luke Kunin, Oskar Lindblom, and Logan Couture are also injured, while Nico Sturm’s condition is questionable. Sturm is day-to-day with an injury and did not play on Sunday against the New York Rangers. Meanwhile, Filip Zadina might make his return tonight.
So far, the Sharks have not called anyone up to meet the team in the middle of its East Coast swing.
Meanwhile, the Islanders are somewhat healthy. Mathew Barzal is day-to-day. Defenseman Sebastian Aho, not to be confused with the forward of the same name who plays for the Carolina Hurricanes, and Adam Pelech are on the injured reserve.
The Isles have two in a row after beating the Florida Panthers 4-3 on Saturday night and are looking to claw their way back into the Metropolitan Division playoff race. The Islanders are in fifth with a 10-7-6 record. While both the Islanders and the Washington Capitals have 26 points, the Caps have a game in hand. The Islanders trail second place Carolina by just three points, so the team has a legitimate chance of finding its way back into the race.
On the Islanders’ end of the ice, look out for Barzal if he’s healthy. The center has 23 points in 22 games. Brock Nelson leads the team with ten goals. Three other Islanders – Bo Horvat, Barzal and Simon Holmstrom – have seven goals each, which is equal to the Sharks’ goals leader, Fabian Zetterlund.
It will be interesting to see if the Sharks will see top netminder Ilya Sorokin or get backup Semyon Varlamov.
San Jose Sharks lines
According to The Daily Faceoff, these are the lines we’re likely to see today. Matt Benning is injured again, though no clue for how long. That means Marc-Edouard Vlasic is in.
Forwards
Fabian Zetterlund – Mikael Granlund – Anthony Duclair
William Eklund – Tomas Hertl – Alexander Barabanov
Justin Bailey – Nico Sturm – Kevin Labanc
Mike Hoffman – Jacob MacDonald – Filip Zadina
Defensemen
Mario Ferraro – Kyle Burroughs
Calen Addison – Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Nikita Okhotiuk – Jan Rutta
Goaltenders
Kaapo Kahkonen
Mackenzie Blackwood
New York Islanders lines
As for the Islanders, here’s who will line up for the team according to The Daily Faceoff. Note that Nelson and Dobson
Forwards
Anders Lee – Bo Horvat – Oliver Wahlstrom
Pierre Engvall – Brock Nelson – Kyle Palmieri
Simon Holmstrom – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Julien Gauthier
Hudson Fasching – Casey Cizikas – Cal Clutterbuck
Defensemen
Alexander Romanov – Noah Dobson
Samuel Bolduc – Ryan Pulock
Mike Reilly – Scott Mayfield
Goaltenders
Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov
How to watch San Jose Sharks at New York Islanders
Tonight’s game will be broadcast regionally on NBCSCA. Streaming is available with a subscription to ESPN+ (blackout restrictions may apply). The game is also set to air on the NHL Network. The radio call will be streamed through the Sharks Audio Network. Islanders fans can watch the game on MSGSN/MSG+ or listen on 88.7 FM, 103.9 FM or 1050 AM.
The game starts at 4:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET at UBS Arena.
Check back then to follow along with all of the play-by-play action in the comment section below!
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