Yaroslav Askarov is set to return to the crease for the San Jose Sharks as they wrap up a five-game road trip with a crucial matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins. After dealing with an illness that sidelined him for a week, Askarov looks to reestablish his presence in goal, having originally started the trip against the Dallas Stars. In his absence, Alex Nedeljkovic took the reins and performed admirably, securing two wins out of three games and stopping 82 of 88 shots faced.
The Sharks, currently holding a record of 15 wins, 14 losses, and 3 overtime losses, have had some challenges along the way. Shakir Mukhamadullin, who recently returned to action after being a healthy scratch for four games, suffered an upper-body injury in the contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. Head coach Ryan Warsofsky described Mukhamadullin’s situation as day-to-day, expressing optimism about his recovery. “He’s probably frustrated,” Warsofsky acknowledged, “but we think this is very short-term. We’re confident that he’ll be ready for next week.”
In the absence of Mukhamadullin, veteran Nick Leddy and young defenseman Vincent Iorio are set to step into the lineup. Warsofsky also commented on Timothy Liljegren being a healthy scratch, explaining that the player’s recent performance has lacked the consistency seen earlier in the season. “We’ve gotta get him back to being that guy that can shut down top lines,” he stated, emphasizing the need for a reset after a heavy workload.
Amidst these adjustments, Ryan Reaves, battling an upper-body issue, was confirmed to be in the lineup as a game-time decision, while Ty Dellandrea remains a game-time decision with a lower-body injury.
On the other side of the ice, the Pittsburgh Penguins, with a record of 14 wins, 8 losses, and 7 overtime losses, made headlines with a recent trade, acquiring goaltender Stuart Skinner and defenseman Brett Kulak from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for their own goalie, Tristan Jarry. Head coach Dan Muse is expected to provide additional lineup updates closer to game time.
Fans eager to catch the action can tune in at 12 PM PT for the puck drop at PPG Paints Arena, with coverage available on NBC Sports California and via the Sharks Audio Network.
