In a highly anticipated matchup, the San Jose Sharks are set to face off against the Philadelphia Flyers at 7 p.m. ET, broadcast live on NBCSP and NBCSCA. Both teams are eager to secure a win as they navigate through their respective seasons, with the Sharks holding a record of 14 wins, 13 losses, and 3 overtime losses, while the Flyers boast a slightly better record at 15 wins, 9 losses, and 3 overtime losses.
The Sharks have announced a projected lineup that includes notable forwards such as Collin Graf, Macklin Celebrini, and Will Smith leading the charge. The second line will feature William Eklund alongside Alexander Wennberg and Tyler Toffoli, aiming to provide offensive depth. Philipp Kurashev and Ty Dellandrea are expected to bolster the third line with Adam Gaudette, while Barclay Goodrow, Zack Ostapchuk, and Ryan Reaves round out the fourth line. On defense, the Sharks are set to utilize a combination of Dmitry Orlov and Timothy Liljegren, with Mario Ferraro pairing with John Klingberg. Sam Dickinson joins Nick Leddy to complete the defensive unit, while Alex Nedeljkovic is expected to be in goal, with Yaroslav Askarov as the backup.
In terms of personnel changes, Reaves returns to the lineup after being a healthy scratch in the last two games, taking the place of Jeff Skinner. Defenseman Liljegren’s status remains uncertain due to a lower-body injury, with Shakir Mukhamadullin waiting in the wings if needed. The Sharks will also have to contend with the absence of Vincent Desharnais, who is sidelined with an upper-body injury and is expected to miss his seventh consecutive game.
On the other side, the Flyers have their own set of lineups featuring standout players like Matvei Michkov, Sean Couturier, and Owen Tippett. The second line is headlined by Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak, and Travis Konecny, while the lower lines consist of Nikita Grebenkin with Noah Cates and Bobby Brink, followed by Carl Grundstrom, Rodrigo Abols, and Garnet Hathaway. Their defensive lineup includes Nick Seeler and Travis Sanheim, with Emil Andrae partnering Jamie Drysdale, and Ty Murchison alongside Noah Juulsen.
Injury concerns are also prominent for the Flyers, as Rasmus Ristolainen and Tyson Foerster are both out with triceps and upper-body injuries, respectively. Cam York is expected to be absent again for the second consecutive game. Murchison, recalled from the AHL’s Lehigh Valley, is slated to make his NHL debut, stepping in for Egor Zamula, while Grundstrom returns after being scratched in previous games.
As for the Sharks, coach Ryan Warsofsky shared some updates before the game, noting that Askarov missed the morning skate due to illness but is expected to serve as backup. With lineup adjustments on both sides, fans can anticipate an exciting evening of hockey as the Sharks and Flyers vie for an essential victory.
