Sharks at Predators (game 5): Lines, game thread and how to watch

The Nashville Predators are coming off a decisive win over the New York Rangers on Thursday night. The Predators beat the Rangers 4-1. The Preds are now 2-3-0 in this young season with wins over the Rangers and the Seattle Kraken. Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks are still in search of that elusive first win of the season.

For San Jose, Mikael Granlund is on the road trip, though he’s not expected to play tonight. Logan Couture is skating, but is not with the team on this trip.

Nikita Okhotiuk made his debut for the San Jose Barracuda last night against the Henderson Silver Knights and played again today for the team. He is with the Barracuda on a conditioning assignment.

San Jose Sharks lines

For the Sharks, the team will go with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen for the first time this season. As a result, Ty Emberson will make his NHL debut. Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports that Emberson’s mom and grandmother will be able to make the game despite the short notice. It just so happens that they’re on a drive down from Wisconsin to Florida for the winter so a stop in Nashville is on the way. While his dad and grandfather won’t be able to get there from Wisconsin in time, his fiancee will make the flight from San Jose to catch his NHL debut.

According to The Hockey News’ Max Miller it will be Thomas Bordeleau watching from the press box tonight.

Sounds like Bordeleau is out, and Emberson is making his NHL debut tonight. #SJSharks running 11F 7D. No Granlund yet either

— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) October 21, 2023

It’s not a huge surprise. While Bordeleau came out swinging in his first few games with the Sharks, he had his toughest outing of the season during Thursday night’s game against the Boston Bruins. During that game, Bordeleau played just 11:07 minutes, a steep decline from the 16:58 he played against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.

Givani Smith will also sit tonight, so Jacob Peterson will play. The lines should look something like this:

Forwards
Anthony Duclair – Tomas Hertl – Alexander Barabanov
Filip Zadina – Jacob Peterson – Kevin Labanc
Mike Hoffman – Luke Kunin – William Eklund
Nico Sturm – Fabian Zetterlund

Defensemen
Mario Ferraro – Kyle Burroughs
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Matt Benning
Nikolai Knyzhov – Jan Rutta
Ty Emberson

Goaltenders
Mackenzie Blackwood
Kaapo Kahkonen

Nashville Predators lines

The Preds will be without Cody Glass, who is expected to be out for seven to ten days. In his place is Samuel Fagemo. Sharks fans will remember Fagemo, who played with the Los Angeles Kings in the preseason. The Kings placed the young forward on waivers and the Predators snatched him up. For those of you keeping score, Fagemo scored the overtime game winner in the Sharks’ Sept. 30 preseason game against the Kings.

Fagemo will also have his family in town for his NHL debut.

Sammy Fagemo says his mom and brother are in town today for his #Preds debut: “It’s a really special moment for me and for my family as well”

— Emma Lingan (@emma_lingan) October 21, 2023

Forwards
Filip Forsberg – Ryan O’Reilly – Juuso Parssinen
Gustav Nyquist – Samuel Fagemo – Colton Sissons
Kiefer Sherwood – Thomas Novak – Luke Evangelista
Yakov Trenin – Michael McCarron – Cole Smith

Defensemen
Roman Josi – Dante Fabbro
Ryan McDonagh – Alexandre Carrier
Jeremy Lauzon – Tyson Barrie

Goaltenders
Juuse Saros
Kevin Lankinen

Lines courtesy of The Daily Faceoff.

San Jose Sharks at Nashville Predators How to watch

Tonight’s game will be broadcast regionally on NBCSCA. Streaming is available with a subscription to ESPN+ (blackout restrictions may apply). The radio call will be streamed through the Sharks Audio Network. Predators fans can watch the game on Bally Sports South and the radio call is on 102.5 The Game and El Jefe.

Puck drop is at 5:00 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Check back then to follow along with all of the play-by-play action in the comment section below!