Sharks at Jets: Lines, open thread and how to watch

The San Jose Sharks have three more games on the schedule, all of them on the road.

The Sharks closed things out at home on Saturday with another loss, capping off the worst season on record at SAP Center. San Jose finished the year 8-22-11 at home, though admittedly, one of those “home” losses came on the road in Prague.

The finish ties for the worst ever by a Sharks team. In 1992-93, San Jose went 8-33-1 at home, though back then, home was the Cow Palace. The record is also worse than the 2020-21 COVID-shortened season, when the Sharks went 11-13-0 and the 1994-95 season, when the Sharks went 10-13-1 at home in the lockout-shortened season.

In addition to prizes for the fans on Fan Appreciation day/night the Sharks also handed out end of the season awards.

William Eklund played just eight games for the Sharks this season, but it was enough to earn him Rookie of the Year. And, no surprise to anyone, Erik Karlsson was named the team’s Player of the Year.

Captain Logan Couture received the “Media Good Guy” award for the Sharks player that best deals with the local media on game days.

“Throughout his NHL career, Logan has consistently dealt with the media in a respectful and courteous manner,” Curtis Pashelka told the Sharks media relations team. “This Sharks season has certainly been a challenging one for players from a wins and losses perspective. But Logan always answered the bell with thoughtful and insightful answers when requested by local media members, and his continued professionalism serves as an example to others.”

Couture has won the award in three of the last four seasons. He lost the vote last year in favor of James Reimer.

Finally, Prospect of the Year, as voted on by Sharks management, is Ethan Cardwell. Cardwell had 90 points (43 G, 47 A) in 62 games with the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this season.

The Colts currently lead the Hamilton Bulldogs in the first-round playoff series 3-2. Cardwell has three goals in four games in the playoffs, including two goals in game two of the series.

Tank for Bedard

With every team in the NHL playing Saturday, it was a grand opportunity for the Sharks. The team did its part, losing last night to the Edmonton Oilers 6-1.

The Arizona Coyotes beat the Anaheim Ducks in overtime, so thanks to both teams for the help. The Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the New York Rangers in regulation, so there was no help there. Meantime, the Chicago Blackhawks lost to the Seattle Kraken.

Anaheim pushed Colorado to overtime on Sunday but eventually lost.

That keeps the Sharks in fourth to last in the league, four points up on Chicago and Columbus and two points up on the Ducks.

Today, the Blackhawks host the Minnesota Wild, and the Kraken pay a visit to Arizona.

San Jose Sharks

STATS

Record: 22-41-16
Streak: L3
Goals Leader: Logan Couture (27 G, 39 A)
Assists Leader: Erik Karlsson (23 G, 75 A)
Power Play: 18.3%
Penalty Kill: 83.2%
Goals For/60: 2.89
Goals Against/60: 3.81

LINES
(Per NHL.com)

Jacob MacDonald — Logan Couture — Fabian Zetterlund
Jacob Peterson — Tomas Hertl — Noah Gregor
Evgeny Svechnikov — Nico Sturm — Kevin Labanc
Thomas Bordeleau – Tristen Robins – Adam Raska

Nikolai Knyzhov — Erik Karlsson
Mario Ferraro — Matt Benning
Radim Simek — Henry Thrun

James Reimer
Kaapo Kahkonen

Expected Scratches: Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Steven Lorentz

Injured Reserve: Andreas Johnsson (undisclosed), Jonah Gadjovich (upper body), Luke Kunin (knee), Markus Nutivaara (lower body), Alexander Barabanov (lower body), Oskar Lindblom (upper body), Jeffrey Viel (upper body)

Winnipeg Jets

STATS

Record: 44-32-3
Streak: W1
Goals Leader: Mark Scheifele (40 G, 25 A)
Assists Leader: Josh Morrissey (15 G, 57 A)
Power Play: 19.1%
Penalty Kill: 82.8%
Goals For/60: 2.97
Goals Against/60: 2.75

LINES
(Per NHL.com)

Kyle Connor — Pierre-Luc Dubois — Mark Scheifele
Nikolaj Ehlers – Vladislav Namestnikov — Blake Wheeler
Nino Niederreiter — Adam Lowry — Mason Appleton
Morgan Barron — Kevin Stenlund — Saku Maenalanen

Josh Morrissey — Dylan DeMelo
Brenden Dillon — Neal Pionk
Dylan Samberg — Nate Schmidt

Connor Hellebuyck
David Rittich

Expected Scratches: Kyle Capobianco, Logan Stanley, David Gustafsson, Azel Jonsson-Fjallby, Karson Kuhlman

Injured Reserve: Cole Perfetti (upper body), Sam Gagner (lower body)

How to watch

Today’s game will be broadcast locally on NBCSCA. The radio call will be streamed through the Sharks Audio Network. You can also live stream on ESPN+ (blackout restrictions may apply). Puck drop is 4:00 p.m. PT/7:00 p.m. ET at Bell MTS Place.

Jets’ fans can watch on SNW.

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