Sharks Game Previews

Sharks vs. Stars: Another chance to clinch

Another team fighting for their playoff lives heads into the Shark Tank, with San Jose having yet another chance to mathematically guarantee themselves a spot in the postseason.

If the Sharks earn at least a point against the Dallas Stars tonight in the final meeting ever between these two teams as division rivals, they'll secure themselves a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the ninth consecutive postseason. For their part, Dallas remain in the playoff hunt but will likely need to win out and get some help along the way in order to make the dance.

Since the last time these teams played each other, a 2-1 Sharks loss in Dallas ten days ago, Stars forward Alex Chiasson (who lit up San Jose for three goals in two games) sustained a shoulder injury, leading Glen Gulutzan to put all his eggs in one basket as the Stars' first line is now comprised by their three best forwards; Ray Whitney, Jamie Benn and Loui Eriksson. Expect to see Logan Couture's line and the Marc-Edouard Vlasic/Justin Braun defense pairing draw plenty of Benn. That unit holding Dallas' top guns in check and the Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski lines exploiting lesser matchups will be key to the Sharks punching their ticket to the playoffs.