SAN JOSE SHARKS NEWS

Blackhawks, Sharks clash in matchup of struggling franchises The teams with the NHL’s worst records square off Saturday night when the Chicago Blackhawks finish up a three-game California road trip aga...

MARCH 23 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Mackenzie Blackwood - Slated starter for Saturday Blackwood is set to start at home against Chicago on Saturday, according to Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.

Impact Blackwood has a 9-19-3 record, 3.49 GAA and .897 save percentage in 36 contests this season. He returned from a groin injury Thursday and stopped 17 of 21 shots en route to a 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay. Although Blackwood is having a difficult season, Chicago, which ranks 32nd offensively with 2.16 goals per game, is still a favorable matchup for the goaltender.

MARCH 22 • ROTOWIRE

Sharks play the Blackhawks on losing streak

The San Jose Sharks will try to break a six-game losing streak when they take on the Chicago Blackhawks

MARCH 22 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Eklund scores after demotion, but Sharks' skid reaches six games SAN JOSE, Calif – It was perhaps an opportunity for San Jose Sharks forward William Eklund to get his bearings again, to take some weight of...

MARCH 22 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Jacob MacDonald - Generates helper in loss MacDonald registered an assist in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Lightning.

Impact MacDonald was expected to be scratched initially, but Mike Hoffman (upper body) wasn't able to suit up. The helper was MacDonald's first point since his goal Dec. 23 versus the Canucks. The winger/defenseman is up to eight points, 48 shots on net, 38 hits, 21 PIM and a minus-13 rating through 28 appearances this season, matching his point total form 58 contests a year ago.

MARCH 22 • ROTOWIRE

William Eklund - Deposits lone goal in loss Eklund scored a goal in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Lightning.

Impact Eklund entered Thursday on a five-game point drought, and he had gone eight contests without a goal. That earned him a demotion to the fourth line, but he bounced back well by tying the game at 1-1 in the first period. Eklund has 11 goals, 31 points, 109 shots on net, 59 blocked shots and a minus-42 rating over 67 appearances. He's still got some bumps in the road ahead while playing for a rebuilding team, but he's shown a lot of positives this season, his first full NHL campaign.

MARCH 22 • ROTOWIRE

Mackenzie Blackwood - Loses in return Blackwood gave up four goals on 21 shots in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Lightning.

Impact Blackwood was also under evaluation after the contest, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports. Pashelka adds that Blackwood is expected to be fine, which is a good sign after he missed three weeks with a groin injury. The 27-year-old dropped to 9-19-3 with a 3.49 GAA and an .897 save percentage over 36 appearances. Blackwood is expected to take over the No. 1 job between the pipes, with Devin Cooley currently slated for backup duty after Magnus Chrona returned to AHL San Jose. The Sharks have a favorable matchup ahead Saturday versus the Blackhawks.

MARCH 22 • ROTOWIRE

Nikita Kucherov's 4 assists lift Lightning over Sharks NHL points leader Nikita Kucherov notched four assists and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the host San Jose Sharks 4-1 on Thursday for their f...

MARCH 22 • SACBEE.COM

Kucherov has 4 assists for Lightning in win against Sharks | NHL.com Point has 3 points, Duclair scores in return for Tampa Bay

MARCH 22 • NHL.COM

Brayden Point scores twice, Nikita Kucherov has 4 assists in Lightning's 4-1 win over Sharks

Brayden Point scored two goals, Nikita Kucherov had four assists and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the San Jose Sharks 4-1 for their fifth straight win

MARCH 22 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mike Hoffman - Out again Thursday Hoffman (upper body) is not on the ice for warmups and won't play Thursday versus the Lightning, Max Miller of The Hockey News reports.

Impact Hoffman will miss his sixth straight game, though he has been practicing with the team this week. The 34-year-old winger has 22 points through 61 games. His next chance to play is Saturday versus the Blackhawks.

MARCH 22 • ROTOWIRE

Mackenzie Blackwood - Slated to start Thursday Blackwood (groin) is set to start at home against Tampa Bay on Thursday, per Max Miller of The Hockey News.

Impact Blackwood was activated off injured reserve earlier in the day. He has a 9-18-3 record, 3.48 GAA and .899 save percentage in 35 contests this season. The 27-year-old goaltender will be playing between the pipes for the first time since Feb. 27. The Lightning are tied for fifth offensively with 3.49 goals per game, so Blackwood's first assignment back from injury is a difficult one.

MARCH 21 • ROTOWIRE

Magnus Chrona - Sent back to minors Chrona was reassigned to AHL San Jose on Thursday.

Impact Chrona's demotion comes on the heels of a four-game losing streak during which he posted a 4.83 GAA and .854 save percentage. In a corresponding move, the Sharks activated Mackenzie Blackwood (groin) off injured reserve. As such, Chrona likely will finish the year in the minors with the Barracuda.

MARCH 21 • ROTOWIRE

Mackenzie Blackwood - Activated off injured reserve Blackwood has been taken off injured reserve ahead of Thursday's matchup with the Lightning.

Impact Blackwood could be in line to start against Tampa Bay, though he hasn't been officially confirmed yet. If the netminder does start, it will be his first appearance in the crease since Feb. 27 against the Devils, a stretch of 11 games on the shelf. With Vitek Vanecek (lower body) likely done for the year, Blackwood figures to see the majority of the workload the rest of the way.

MARCH 21 • ROTOWIRE

Nikita Kucherov, Lightning look to stay hot vs. lowly Sharks After a hot night in Las Vegas, the Tampa Bay Lightning will keep putting their money on Nikita Kucherov for more on-ice winnings.Riding a f...

MARCH 21 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Longtime NHL critic and diversity advocate Akim Aliu gets a tryout with the Sharks' AHL team

After years of feeling alienated by the NHL and campaigning to diversify the sport, Akim Aliu is getting another shot at playing pro hockey

MARCH 20 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sharks host the Lightning on losing streak

The San Jose Sharks look to stop a five-game losing streak when they play the Tampa Bay Lightning

MARCH 20 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

NHL roundup: Predators rally past Sharks to extend point streak Michael McCarron scored two goals and the Nashville Predators scored seven unanswered to beat the visiting San Jose Sharks 8-2 on Tuesday ni...

MARCH 20 • KANSASCITY.COM

Jan Rutta - Faces off against Preds Rutta had one blocked shot in 20:12 of ice time in Tuesday's 8-2 loss to Nashville.

Impact After missing the last five games with a lower body injury, Rutta returned to his regular spot on the second pairing with partner Henry Thrun. Rutta finished with two shots, one blocked shot and a minus-5 rating in 20:12 of ice time. The 33-year old defenseman offers a solid defensive presence with some peripheral offensive contributions. He may be an option for deeper leagues or those needing help in blocked shots and hits categories, but his offensive upside is limited.

MARCH 20 • ROTOWIRE

Magnus Chrona - Gives up eight goals Chrona stopped 32 of 40 shots in Tuesday's 8-2 loss to the Predators.

Impact Chrona and the Sharks had a 2-1 lead almost halfway through the game but it went downhill from there. The Predators scored seven unanswered goals in only a 26:42 minute span and it is safe to say this game was a rout. This was the fourth loss in a row for Chrona and he only has one total win on the season. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for goaltending help unless Chrona can dramatically turn things around soon. He's best left on the waiver wire in most leagues.

MARCH 20 • ROTOWIRE

Predators score 8, top Sharks to tie franchise record point streak at 15 | NHL.com Forsberg, Josi each has goal, 2 assists for Nashville

MARCH 20 • NHL.COM

Predators clobber Sharks, push point streak to 15 Michael McCarron scored two goals and the Nashville Predators scored seven unanswered to beat the visiting San Jose Sharks 8-2 on Tuesday ni...

MARCH 20 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

McCarron scores 2 goals to lead Predators over Sharks 8-2; Nashville extends point streak

Michael McCarron scored two goals, Roman Josi and Filip Forsberg each had a goal and two assists and the Nashville Predators beat the San Jose Sharks 8-2, extending the team’s poin...

MARCH 20 • ASSOCIATED PRESS