The Sharks have reached the belief of the ordinary season, as they’ll host the Colorado Avalanche at SAP Center in Game No. 82 Saturday night. They’ll get an enormous boost of their very last recreation before the playoffs, as Erik Karlsson returns to the lineup after missing the ultimate 17 video games with a groin damage.
San Jose (45-27-nine) has already locked up the second seed in the Pacific division. However, they still have something to play for on Saturday. If they may be capable of getting as a minimum one factor, they’ll clinch the second one-pleasant document inside the Western Conference, which could give them domestic-ice benefit inside the convention finals, if they have been to make it that some distance.
Sharks can clinch second in West with one point vs. Avs.
Colorado (38-29-14) will also be headed to the postseason, even though their first-spherical opponent has nevertheless but to be determined. They’ll be the second one Wild Card crew inside the West unless they beat San Jose and Dallas loses to Chicago in law.
Here’s how you may watch Sharks-Avalanche stay on NBC Sports California Plus and streaming on the MyTeams via NBC Sports app.
SAN JOSE — Just as the Sharks get a crucial piece in their blue line lower back into the lineup, one in every of their younger forwards is sidelined for the everyday-season finale.
Timo Meier will omit Saturday night time’s contest against the Colorado Avalanche and is taken into consideration day after day after maintaining an undisclosed Thursday towards the Edmonton Oilers. Meier fell awkwardly behind the Oilers’ internet within the 1/3 length, and he skated gingerly off the ice after Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse fell on top of him. Meier did now not play inside the very last 10:34 of the game.
While Meier’s absence might encourage concern, Sharks train Peter DeBoer assured newshounds the pass only is prudent and that the Swiss forward could be geared up to play in Game 1 of the first spherical of the playoffs next week. “I suppose he could play if tonight became a playoff game,” DeBoer stated. “I assume we’re simply careful with it. He’s a bit more. However, he’s going to be OK.” With Meier’s absence establishing a spot in the lineup, winger Joonas Donskoi gets the opportunity to electrify the coaches after being a healthy scratch Thursday towards the Oilers. Although Donskoi hasn’t scored an aim in view that Jan. 10, DeBoer likes what he sees from the Finnish forward as of late.
“I loved his final sports recreation,” DeBoer stated, recalling how Donskoi performed Tuesday in opposition to the Vancouver Canucks. “Throw another one of these games out, [and] preserve making us reflect consideration on you while we’re penciling inside the lineup.”
Kucherov breaks Thornton’s 13-year-old scoring record]Donskoi filled in for Meier on San Jose’s top line throughout Saturday’s morning skate, taking rushes with Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski. Meier has four points ( desires, two assists) in his closing six games. Entering Saturday, he ranked 0.33 at the Sharks with 30 goals and fourth with 66 factors.
The Sharks close their 2019 normal-season campaign Saturday night time with a standoff towards the Colorado Avalanche. San Jose may have Erik Karlsson’s lower back in the lineup for the primary time, seeing that Feb. 26, as the elite defenseman returns from a lower-body injury with the hopes of entering into form for the upcoming playoffs. Forward Timo Meier can be out of the lineup with undisclosed harm and is considered day after day, consistent with Sharks’ teacher Peter DeBoer.
The Sharks can clinch 2nd region in the Western Conference if they get one factor out of Saturday’s game, which might make certain they’ve domestic ice in the conference very last if they go on a run in the upcoming playoffs. On the other hand, Colorado gained’t understands if it’ll be the primary or second wild-card team in the West until the conclusion of Saturday’s games, with the Dallas Stars’ destiny additionally to be decided once they play the Minnesota Wild on Saturday afternoon. Saturday’s sport marks the 0.33 time the Sharks and the Avalanche will play every other this season. Through ninety-five general games among the franchises, San Jose holds a 44-forty-5-6 document.
