@ 5:00 PST
32-20-7, 71 points		35-19-7, 77 points
3rd in Western Conference		5th in Western Conference

First things first– later today we will be heading over to Stanley’s Sports Bar in Fremont to do three things:

• Watch the San Jose Sharks play the Nashville Predators at 5:00 PM and then watch the SJSU hockey game as well (which starts at 5:45 PM in the rink below).
• Hold a raffle that includes signed pucks, Sharks tickets, hockey gear, t-shirts, an SJSU signed jersey, gift certificates to various restaurants in the Bay Area, and more.
• Raise money for the SJSU Men’s Ice Hockey Team.

Tickets are $15 at the door, all proceeds go to SJSU, and we get to talk hockey all day long. It’s going to be an excellent event and we’re looking forward to seeing all of you there.

We recommend arriving no later than 3:30 PM in order to get seats for the game and purchase tickets for the raffle, which will be held five minutes after the end of the SJSU game. You need not be present to win, and can contact ftfcommunityoutreach@gmail.com to buy tickets if you can’t make it.

Now on to the Sharks.

With a win over the Toronto Maple Leafs last night the Sharks seem to be trending in the right direction but things aren’t going to get much easier for them today against the Nashville Predators, a team who has currently outpaced them in the points per game department this season. With LA’s addition of Jeff Carter two days ago, and Phoenix riding Mike Smith to come within striking distance of San Jose, the Sharks Pacific Division lead is tenuous at best right now. There’s not much room for error in games like these, especially with San Jose 2-4-1 on their current road trip and looking to put the finishing touches on it before the NHL Trade Deadline on Monday.

Nashville’s struggles this month haven’t done them any favors as of late, but the return of Patric Hornqvist from the injured reserve today is a big add for them as they attempt to take advantage of San Jose’s injuries that continue to make things interesting. Dominic Moore, Douglas Murray, and Martin Havlat will all be out today for the Sharks.

As David Pollak of Working The Corners is reporting, that means Jim Vandermeer will probably line up at forward once again for the Sharks with Benn Ferriero serving as a healthy scratch. Pollak also states that Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, and Joe Pavelski will remain on the Sharks top line, with Tommy Wingels (who has been simply spectacular as of late) playing on the second line with Logan Couture and Ryane Clowe.

As expected, Antti Niemi will be in net.

For all of you out of towners, use this for your game thread tonight. For all of you in the Bay Area, we look forward to seeing you at Stanley’s Sports Bar in Fremont today to raise money for a worthy cause!

Prediction: Sharks win 3-2, SJSU wins 5-2. Sharks goals by McGinn (x2) and Pavelski.