Expect some changes in the lineup tonight after the San Jose Sharks had that embarrassing loss in Chicago. San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng reports that Will Smith and William Eklund will sit out tonight’s game, giving San Jose a lot less fire power than it was wielding earlier in the road trip. There are two different reasons for the lineup changes.
In regard to Smith, it’s about load management. Last season, Smith played 41 games for Boston College, often going several days between games. That’s a huge shift from an NHL season, when a player will play four or five games in a week and the season is twice as long. The Sharks don’t want Smith to burn out too quickly, so the team will sit him tonight. Warsofsky says it has nothing to do with the young forward’s play.
Eklund, on the other hand, is sitting because of injury. It’s the same injury that made him a game time decision last night, so it’s more of a precaution than anything else. No use hurting a player this early in the season and creating a longer term issue.
As a result, both Danil Gushchin and Givani Smith will have the opportunity to play tonight. For Givani Smith, this will be his first regular season game. For Gushchin, this will be his second game since the season opener. It will be interesting to see if he picked some things up from sitting on the sidelines the past two games.
This is the season’s first meeting with the Jets and the Sharks will have to be on their A game if they even want a shot at winning. The Jets are one of the few remaining undefeated teams in this young season with a 3-0-0 record.
Winnipeg will celebrate Connor Hellebuyck tonight as he prepares for his 500th career start. His family is in town and the team will be paying tribute to him tonight.
Hellebuyck has been formidable to start the season. He was named the NHL’s second star of the week for the opening week of the season. He’s the reason the Jets have a 3-0-0 record to start the season. Hellebuyck currently has a 0.66 goals against average, .976 save percentage and one shutout to his name.
The 31-year-old has 38 career shutouts with the Jets and 278 career wins.
San Jose Sharks lines for Oct. 18, 2024
Look for Mackenzie Blackwood to start in net tonight, we’re still doing that back and forth thing. We’re guessing that Gushchin could get a chance on the top line given that’s where he was skating when Eklund sat out practice the other day. Givani Smith will likely move down to the fourth line. We slid Ty Dellandrea up to center the third line.
Forwards
Danil Gushchin – Mikael Granlund – Tyler Toffoli
Klim Kostin – Alex Wennberg – Fabian Zetterlund
Barclay Goodrow – Ty Dellandrea – Luke Kunin
Carl Grundstrom – Nico Sturm – Givani Smith
Defense
Jake Walman – Cody Ceci
Mario Ferraro – Jan Rutta
Henry Thrun – Matt Benning
Goaltenders
Mackenzie Blackwood
Vitek Vanecek
Winnipeg Jets lines tonight
According to Winnipeg Jets Color Analyst Mitchell Clinton, here’s what the lines will likely look like for the Jets tonight.
#NHLJets line rushes remain the same:
— Mitchell Clinton (@MitchellClinton) October 18, 2024
Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
Perfetti-Namestnikov-Ehlers
Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
Barron-Kupari-Iafallo
Gustafsson
Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Pionk
Fleury-Miller
Stanley-Coghlan
Forwards
Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Gabe Vilardi
Cole Perfetti – Vladislav Namestnikov – Nikolaj Ehlers
Nino Niederreiter – Adam Lowry – Mason Appleton
Morgan Barron – Rasmus Kupari – Alex Iafallo
Defense
Josh Morrissey – Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg – Neal Pionk
Haydn Fleury – Colin Miller
Goaltenders
Connor Hellebuyck
Eric Comrie
How to watch Sharks at Jets 10/18/24
The puck drops at 5 p.m. PT/7 p.m. CT at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg.
Sharks fans can watch the game on NBC Sports California or ESPN+ if you live outside the viewing area. You can listen to the radio call on the Sharks Audio Network app.
Jets fans can watch the game on TSN or listen on 680 CJOB and Power 97.
