Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: Dealing with upper-body issue
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Vanecek sustained an upper-body injury and remains day-to-day, ruling him out against Detroit on Monday, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
With Vanecek on the shelf, the team called up Yaroslav Askarov to serve as the backup to Mackenzie Blackwood in Monday's matchup with Detroit. At this time, it's unclear if Vanecek will travel for the team's upcoming two-game road trip -- if he doesn't, Blackwood and Askarov would likely split the back-to-back.
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Sharks' Mackenzie Blackwood: Leaves ice first
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Blackwood was the first goalie off the ice Monday, Max Miller of NHL.com reports, indicating he'll patrol the home crease versus Detroit.
Blackwood has been seeing the majority of the workload ahead of Vitek Vanecek (undisclosed) but could be in danger of losing starts to Yaroslav Askarov, who was called up from AHL San Jose in light of Vanecek's injury. The 27-year-old Blackwood is struggling for wins, posting a 3-5-3 record to go with a 2.98 GAA, a 914 save percentage and one shutout in 11 outings.
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Sharks' Nico Sturm: Shifts to IR
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Sturm (upper body) was placed on injured reserve Monday, per the NHL media site.
Sturm missed Saturday's 3-2 loss to Vancouver, and his placement on the IR list will keep him out for at least another three games. The 29-year-old forward has three goals, three assists, 15 shots on net, 10 blocked shots and 22 hits through 18 appearances this season. The Sharks brought up netminder Yaroslav Askarov from AHL San Jose in a corresponding move due to an injury to Vitek Vanecek (undisclosed).
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Sharks' Yaroslav Askarov: Summoned by NHL club
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Askarov was recalled from AHL San Jose on Monday.
Askarov was sent to the minors ahead of the regular season, but he'll join the NHL club after Vitek Vanecek (undisclosed) sustained an injury Saturday against the Penguins. Askarov is the best goaltending prospect in pro hockey and has gotten off to a hot start in the AHL this season, posting a 6-3-0 record, 1.92 GAA and .939 save percentage over nine games. Mackenzie Blackwood and Vanecek have been inconsistent early in the 2024-25 campaign, so it's possible that Askarov sticks with the Sharks if he performs well in the near future.
Rutta was held off the scoresheet for the 18th game in a row in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Penguins.
Rutta had a helper in the season opener and hasn't picked up a point since. He's added 17 shots on net, 16 PIM, 21 hits, 34 blocked shots and a minus-5 rating through 19 appearances this season. As a veteran on a fairly young blue line, Rutta's playing time appears to be secure, but he's seeing bottom-four minutes with no power-play time. That kind of role on a bottom-dwelling team like the Sharks makes the 34-year-old a no-go for the vast majority of fantasy formats.
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Sharks' Jake Walman: Draws helper in return
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Walman posted an assist, two shots on goal and two blocked shots in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Penguins.
While he was listed on the third pairing, Walman saw a team-high 24:55 of ice time in his return from a five-game absence due to an upper-body injury. The defenseman has been one of the bright spots for the Sharks this season, though that light may be dimmed if he remains on the second power-play unit. He has 10 points, 37 shots on net, 24 blocked shots, 16 hits, 12 PIM and a plus-3 rating through 14 appearances.
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Sharks' Ty Dellandrea: Lends helper in shootout loss
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Dellandrea logged an assist, four shots on goal and three hits in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Penguins.
Dellandrea snapped an 11-game drought with the helper. He missed four contests in that span due to a hand injury. The 24-year-old forward has been a middle-six regular when healthy, but he has just two points to go with 16 shots on net, 42 hits and a minus-5 rating over 15 appearances. That isn't enough offense to justify a roster spot on most fantasy squads.
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Sharks' Will Smith: Manages power-play assist
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Smith produced a power-play assist and two shots on goal in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Penguins.
Smith has been limited to two assists over six outings in November. The 19-year-old has also moved to the wing with the Sharks healthy down the middle. Smith has four points, 18 shots on net and a minus-10 rating through 15 contests. He'll likely continue to see middle-six minutes when in the lineup. Smith is probable to sit out a game this week, as the Sharks have a road back-to-back in Dallas on Wednesday and St. Louis on Thursday. He has yet to play both halves of a back-to-back this season.
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Sharks' Mikael Granlund: Scores in shootout loss
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Granlund scored a goal on two shots and blocked three shots in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Penguins.
Granlund got on the board against one of his former teams. He's produced three goals and three assists over seven contests in November. The 32-year-old center continues to thrive in less-than-ideal circumstances as a top-six option for the Sharks. He's up to eight goals, 11 helpers, 66 shots on net, 17 hits, 14 blocked shots and a minus-4 rating over 19 appearances. Granlund had 12 goals on 134 shots over 69 outings last season, but it appears he's set for larger production as a finisher thanks to increases in both efficiency and volume.
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Sharks' Tyler Toffoli: Lights lamp twice in shootout loss
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Toffoli scored two goals, one on the power play, in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Penguins.
The Sharks were staring at a 3-0 deficit early in the second period, but Toffoli led the comeback with his seventh and eighth tallies of the season. The veteran winger hadn't produced a multi-point performance since Oct. 28, but Toffoli has a respectable 14 points in 19 contests overall, including two goals and six points with the man advantage.
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Sharks' Mackenzie Blackwood: Needed in relief Saturday
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Blackwood stopped 25 of 26 shots in regulation and overtime after replacing Vitek Vanecek (undisclosed) to begin the second period of Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Penguins.
He stopped only two of Pittsburgh's five shootout attempts, sticking Blackwood with the overtime loss. The 27-year-old hasn't given up more than three goals in any of his last five appearances, going 2-2-1 over that stretch with a 1.92 GAA and .944 save percentage. If Vanecek's injury proves to be serious, it may not result in a big increase in Blackwood's workload, as San Jose would likely dole out a healthy share of playing time to top prospect Yaroslav Askarov.
Vanecek (undisclosed) is questionable to return to Saturday's game versus the Penguins.
Vanecek allowed two goals on nine shots and didn't return for the second period. Mackenzie Blackwood will likely finish off the contest. If Vanecek misses additional time, Yaroslav Askarov could be called up from AHL San Jose.
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Sharks' Nico Sturm: Won't play Saturday
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Sturm (upper body) won't play Saturday against the Penguins, Max Miller of NHL.com reports.
Sturm will miss his first game this season after suffering an injury in Thursday's loss to the Rangers with an injury. The 29-year-old center has three goals and six points through 18 games in 2024-25. Klim Kostin will enter the Sharks' lineup because of Sturm's absence.
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Sharks' Jake Walman: Playing Saturday
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Walman (upper body) will return to the lineup Saturday versus Pittsburgh, Max Miller of NHL.com reports.
Following a five-game absence, Walman could work on the third pairing and see power-play time on the second unit. He has a goal and nine points in 13 appearances this season. Jack Thompson will be scratched to make room for Walman's return.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: First off ice Saturday
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Vanecek was the first goaltender off the ice at morning practice and is slated to get the road start in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Max Miller of NHL.com reports.
Vanecek has faced 123 shots in his last three games, allowing only eight goals while going 1-1-1. Overall, the netminder is 2-5-1 with a 3.26 GAA and a .903 save percentage this season. Pittsburgh has struggled this season en route to a 6-10-3 start and ranks 23rd with 2.68 goals per game.
Kostin was scratched for the eighth straight game when he sat out Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Rangers.
Kostin had no points over his first seven appearances of the season, and that has cost him a regular role. It's disappointing after he had 10 points in 19 contests following a deadline deal that sent him from Detroit to San Jose to close out 2023-24. Kostin could have a path to playing time if Nico Sturm (lower body) misses time after exiting Thursday's game, though Givani Smith will also be in the mix to enter the lineup.
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Sharks' Luke Kunin: Nabs helper in Thursday's loss
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Kunin notched an assist and two hits in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Rangers.
Kunin has spent some time on the fourth line recently, though he has received looks in the middle six at times this year. The 26-year-old could be a candidate to move from wing to center after Nico Sturm (upper body) was injured in Thursday's game. Kunin is at six points, 21 shots on net, 38 hits, 29 blocked shots, 15 PIM and a minus-3 rating over 18 outings.
