Stars at Sharks (game 71): Lines, game thread and how to watch

The Dallas Stars are building up to the playoffs and are in a dogfight to determine who will be the best in the Central Division. As a result, the Stars are not expected to take the night off against the Sharks. Dallas is second in the Central Division, but has the same number of points as number one, the Colorado Avalanche. Both teams have 97 points but the Avs have the advantage of one fewer game played.

Dallas brings a four-game win streak into SAP Center tonight and are 8-2-0 in the team’s last ten games. Meanwhile, the Sharks have lost seven in a row and are 1-7-2 in the last ten.

This is the third and final meeting between the two teams and San Jose has played better against the Stars than some of the other teams in the league. Both of the previous two games went to overtime. On March 2, the Stars beat the Sharks in the shootout 3-2. Then on March 5, the Stars beat the Sharks 7-6 in overtime.

Jason Robertson leads the Stars with 72 points in 72 games. Roope Hintz and Wyatt Johnston share the goal scoring lead with 26 apiece. The Stars have six 20-plus goal scorers on the team’s roster and have one more, Mason Marchment, currently at 19 goals.

San Jose Sharks lines March 26, 2024

Despite San Jose’s recent record, there won’t be a lot of changes in the Sharks lineup tonight. According to San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng, the lines will be the same, though the goalies will change.

Smith, Hoffman, Labanc & Cooley last Sharks on the ice, so looks like same lines as last game, just different goalie

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 26, 2024

Forwards
Fabian Zetterlund – Mikael Granlund – Klim Kostin
Filip Zadina – Luke Kunin – Alexander Barabanov
Thomas Bordeleau – Nico Sturm – Justin Bailey
Jacob MacDonald – Ryan Carpenter – William Eklund

Defensemen
Mario Ferraro – Kyle Burroughs
Henry Thrun – Jan Rutta
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Calen Addison

Goaltenders
Mackenzie Blackwood
Devin Cooley

Dallas Stars vs. San Jose Sharks lines

Don’t expect many changes for the Stars since the last time these two teams played. Here’s what the lines are expected to look like tonight.

Forwards
Jason Robertson – Roope Hintz – Joe Pavelski
Mason Marchment – Matt Duchene – Tyler Seguin
Jamie Benn – Wyatt Johnston – Logan Stankoven
Radek Faksa – Sam Steel – Craig Smith

Defensemen
Thomas Harley – Miro Heiskanen
Esa Lindell – Chris Tanev
Ryan Suter – Nils Lundkvist

Goaltenders
Jake Oettinger
Scott Wedgewood

How to watch Stars at Sharks March 26, 2024

Sharks fans can watch the game on NBCSCA or listen on the Sharks Audio Network. You can listen to the stream anywhere via the Sharks & SAP Center App presented by Western Digital.

Dallas fans can watch the game on Bally Sports Southwest or listen on The Ticket 96.7 FM and 1310 AM.

Everyone can watch on ESPN+ or Hulu provided that they don’t fall victim to those dreaded blackout restrictions.

The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. PT/9:30 p.m. CT/10:30 p.m. ET at SAP Center in San Jose.

You can also come back here to talk about what’s happening on and off the ice with other Sharks fans.