Since opening the season with four straight wins, the Sharks have struggled. San Jose has lost three consecutive games, and four players to injury. Logan Couture is still out with a broken right fibula and Ben Smith is dealing with an ear laceration, according to the Mercury News’ Curtis Pashelka, but the Sharks could get Joonas Donskoi and Paul Martin back in the lineup tonight when they host the Carolina Hurricanes.

Tale Of The Tape

	@
2-5-0	Record	4-3-0
7th in Metropolitan	Rank	2nd in Pacific
53.9%	Score-Adj. Fenwick	51.5%
94.7	PDO	99.5
8.0	PP%	15.8
80.0	PK%	85.7

7:30 PM PDT | SAP Center | San Jose, California
TV: CSN California | Radio: SJSharks.com, 98.5 KFOX
Know Your Enemy: Canes Country

Last Meeting

Tomas Hertl had two goals and an assist, but the Hurricanes left the SAP Center with two points, beating the Sharks 5-4.

Storylines

• Just like last year, Carolina is sneakily one of the best possession teams in the league. They rank fifth in score-adjusted Fenwick this season. So how have they only won twice in seven games? The ‘Canes have the fourth-lowest shooting percentage in the league (5.7%), and the fifth lowest save percentage (.890). Eddie Lack and Cam Ward have both struggled this season, and have combined for only one game with a save percentage above .900.
• Paul Martin’s potential return would help the Sharks at even strength and on the penalty kill. In his absence, San Jose’s only killed 50% of its penalties, and has been out-possessed in each of those games.
• Joe Thornton says he’s good to go after falling awkwardly following a Jake Muzzin hit in Thursday’s game against the Kings. With one of their top two centers already injured, the Sharks really can’t afford to lose Thornton at this point in the season.