The San Jose Sharks have embarked on a brief, two-game road trip before the holiday break. Today, the Sharks pay a visit to the Edmonton Oilers. After a very slow start to the season, it appears the Oilers have turned things around. The team is 8-2-0 in its last ten games and has climbed up to third in the Pacific Division behind the Los Angeles Kings and the Vegas Golden Knights.
Edmonton boasts one of the top scorers in the NHL and his name is not Connor McDavid. Leon Draisaitl is tied for second with Mikko Rantanen in points with 50. Both trail Nathan MacKinnon, who has 55 points this season. McDavid isn’t far behind, however. He has 45 points this season, good enough for sixth in the league.
For the Sharks, Klim Kostin is on the road trip and almost ready to play, according to The Mercury News’ Curtis Pashelka.
Kostin won’t play tomorrow in Edmonton, he said. Is hoping to play Monday in Vancouver #SJSharks
— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) December 20, 2024
Kostin last played on Dec. 12 when he left midway through the game against the St. Louis Blues. It was unfortunate timing, as Kostin was playing some of his best hockey this season.
San Jose Sharks lines today
Since it’s an early game, there is no practice this morning. We’re going off the lines that San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng observed at practice yesterday.
#SJSharks lines at practice before they fly to Edmonton, Smith to 4th line? Lund line back in effect? Mukhamadullin out?
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 20, 2024
Eklund-Granlund-Zetterlund
Kovalenko-Celebrini-Toffoli
Goodrow-Wennberg-Kunin
Grundstrom-Sturm-Smith
Dellandrea-Kostin
Walman-Ceci
Ferraro-Liljegren…
Looks like Carl Grunstrom’s goal was good enough to keep him in the lineup. Timothy Liljegren is back in after sitting for a bit. That makes Shakir Mukhamadullin the odd man out.
I’m guessing/hoping on the goaltender.
Forwards
William Eklund – Mikael Granlund – Fabian Zetterlund
Nikolai Kovalenko – Macklin Celebrini – Tyler Toffoli
Barclay Goodrow – Alex Wennberg – Luke Kunin
Carl Grundstrom – Nico Sturm – Will Smith
Defense
Jake Walman – Cody Ceci
Mario Ferraro – Timothy Liljegren
Henry Thrun – Jan Rutta
Goaltenders
Yaroslav Askarov
Alexandar Georgiev
Edmonton Oilers lines vs. San Jose Sharks
Sounds like Calvin Pickard will likely get the start for the Oilers. Here’s what Tony Brar of Oilers TV reported the lines were during practice on Friday.
Oilers lines & pairings – Friday practice:
— Tony Brar 🚀 (@TonyBrarOTV) December 20, 2024
• No Kapanen* on the ice
RNH – McDavid – Hyman
Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Ryan*
Arvidsson – Henrique – Perry
Skinner – Janmark – Brown
Nurse – Bouchard
Ekholm – Emberson
Kulak – Stecher
Pickard
Skinner#Oilers
Forwards
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Connor McDavid – Zach Hyman
Vasily Podkolzin – Leon Draisaitl – Derek Ryan
Viktor Arvidsson – Adam Henrique – Corey Perry
Jeff Skinner – Mattias Janmark – Connor Brown
Defense
Darnell Nurse – Evan Bouchard
Mattias Ekholm – Ty Emberson
Brett Kulak – Troy Stecher
Goaltenders
Calvin Pickard
Stuart Skinner
How to watch San Jose Sharks at Edmonton Oilers today
The puck drops at Rogers Place at 1 p.m. PT/2 p.m. MT.
Sharks fans can watch the game on NBC Sports California or listen on the Sharks Audio Network.
Oilers fans can watch on Sportsnet or listen on the Oilers Radio Network, including 880 CHED.
