SAN JOSE SHARKS NEWS

Matt Benning - Out indefinitely Benning (lower body) is out indefinitely, coach David Quinn told Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now on Wednesday.

Impact Benning hasn't played since Dec. 1 due to the injury. He has two assists, 15 hits and 29 blocks in 14 contests this season. When Benning returns, he might serve in a top-four capacity, though he likely won't have a role on the power play.

DECEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jan Rutta - Notches assist in win Rutta posted an assist in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Jets.

Impact Rutta has racked up four assists over five games since he returned from an undisclosed injury that cost him five contests. The 33-year-old defenseman had managed just one assist over the first 19 games of the season. He's stabilized his place in the Sharks' bottom four as a veteran presence for the team's many young blueliners. Rutta is at five assists, 24 shots on net, 39 blocked shots and a minus-11 rating over 24 appearances.

DECEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mike Hoffman - Posts helper Tuesday Hoffman notched an assist and two PIM in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Jets.

Impact Hoffman has two goals and two helpers over his last four games. The 34-year-old winger is up to 12 points, 33 shots on net, 14 PIM and a minus-7 rating through 28 appearances this season. Hoffman continues to see time in the bottom six and on the second power-play unit, so there's not much of a reason to be optimistic that he'll find another level on offense.

DECEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Anthony Duclair - Sends power-play assist in win Duclair notched a power-play assist in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Jets.

Impact Duclair was able to avoid missing a game after leaving Sunday's contest in Vegas with an upper-body injury. The winger picked up the secondary helper on William Eklund's game-winning marker in the third period. Duclair has shuffled around the lineup as a part of the supporting cast this season. He's up to 11 points (four on the power play), 43 shots on net, 20 PIM and a minus-6 rating over 26 outings, mainly featuring in a top-six role.

DECEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mikael Granlund - Stays hot with helper Granlund notched an assist and four shots on goal in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Jets.

Impact Granlund has racked up two goals and 10 assists during his six-game point streak. The 31-year-old led all Sharks with 25:09 of ice time in this win, and he won 14 of his 22 faceoffs for good measure. Granlund is up to 19 points, 47 shots on net, 23 hits, 16 blocked shots and an even plus-minus rating over 22 appearances. Remarkably, he's shooting a mere 6.4 percent -- better puck luck could see his offense on another level from the already impressive work he's doing now.

DECEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Justin Bailey - First goal in over five years Bailey scored a goal on two shots and added two hits in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Jets.

Impact Bailey's last NHL tally came March 10, 2018 when he played with the Sabres. He'd gone over five years without scoring, though he saw just 37 NHL games in that span. The 28-year-old has enjoyed something of a career renaissance in San Jose, picking up five points, 10 shots on net, seven hits and a plus-4 rating over eight appearances this season. It's already his most productive NHL campaign, though it's unclear if he's done enough to hold onto his place in the lineup once the Sharks get some injured forwards back.

DECEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

William Eklund - Breaks tie on power play Eklund scored a power-play goal on three shots and added four PIM in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Jets.

Impact Eklund's third-period marker broke a 1-1 tie, sending the Sharks to their third win in the last four games. Eklund missed Sunday's game in Vegas due to an illness, but he bounced back with 16:10 of ice time in this contest. He has three goals and three helpers over his last five outings, giving him 14 points (five on the power play), 44 shots on net, 26 blocked shots, 16 PIM and a minus-9 rating through 28 games this season.

DECEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mackenzie Blackwood - Strong in narrow win Blackwood stopped 36 of 37 shots in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Jets.

Impact Blackwood let a Brenden Dillon shot squeak through in the first period, but that was it. This was Blackwood's second win over his last 10 appearances (2-5-1), a stretch that has seen him start to cede playing time to Kaapo Kahkonen. On the year, Blackwood has a 4-11-2 record with a 3.67 GAA and a .900 save percentage through 20 appearances. Neither of the Sharks' goalies are particularly strong options in fantasy, but the team has played respectable hockey after a near-historically bad pace to begin the campaign. Next up is a road game in Arizona on Friday.

DECEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nico Sturm - Departs in third period Sturm sustained what head coach David Quinn described as a "mid-body" injury in the third period of Tuesday's game versus the Jets, Max Miller of The Hockey News reports.

Impact Sturm's injury will once again test the Sharks already shaky center depth. The forward's timeline to return is unclear pending further evaluation. If Sturm misses Friday's game in Arizona, Luke Kunin could move up to center the third line after returning from an injury as a winger Tuesday.

DECEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Eklund scores tiebreaking goal late in 3rd period to send Sharks past Jets 2-1

William Eklund scored a tiebreaking power-play goal with 4:51 remaining and the San Jose Sharks beat the Winnipeg Jets 2-1

DECEMBER 13, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Luke Kunin - Set to play Tuesday Kunin (upper body) took line rushes during warmups, indicating he'll play Tuesday versus the Jets, Max Miller of The Hockey News reports.

Impact Kunin was initially expected to sit out this game, but he was activated from injured reserve Tuesday afternoon. The 26-year-old appears set to return in a fourth-line role, which would bump Jacob MacDonald from the lineup.

DECEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Luke Kunin - Activated from IR Kunin (upper body) was activated from injured reserve Tuesday.

Impact Kunin was not expected to play Tuesday against Winnipeg, but his removal from the IR list may change that. He hasn't played for the past five contests. Kunin has collected five goals, two assists, 40 shots on net, 20 blocked shots and 29 hits in 23 games this season.

DECEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Still away from team Vlasic (personal) won't be available to play Tuesday against Winnipeg, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Impact Vlasic is still away from the team for personal reasons and it's unclear when he will return. He has picked up one assist, 12 shots on goal and 23 blocked shots in 16 outings this season. Henry Thrun is slated to play in Tuesday's contest.

DECEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Luke Kunin - Looking to play Friday Kunin (upper body) will not play against Winnipeg on Tuesday but could return for Friday's clash with Arizona, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Impact Kunin will be shelved for his sixth consecutive contest due to his upper-body injury. Prior to getting hurt, the Missouri native was struggling offensively with just one point in his last six contests while recording just 1.6 shots per game over that stretch. Once Kunin is cleared to play, San Jose could go back to utilizing 12 forwards and six defensemen.

DECEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

William Eklund - Suiting up versus Jets Eklund (lower body) will play against Winnipeg on Tuesday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.

Impact Eklund was finding his offensive stride when he suffered his lower-body injury, notching two goals and three helpers in his last four contests. Through the fist 27 games of the year, the 21-year-old winger has already put up 13 points, including four with the man advantage, and should be capable of pushing for the 40-point threshold this season.

DECEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Anthony Duclair - Playing Tuesday Duclair (upper body) will return to the lineup versus Winnipeg on Tuesday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.

Impact Duclair will avoid missing any games after being forced to leave Sunday's matchup with Vegas after recording just 5:50 of ice time. The 28-year-old winger is pointless in nine of his last 12 contests, recording three goals and two assists in the other three games. With his return, Duclair is set for a top-six role in addition to joining the No. 1 power-play unit.

DECEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mackenzie Blackwood - Exits ice first Tuesday Blackwood was the first goalie to leave the ice Tuesday, Max Miller of The Hockey News reports, indicating he'll guard the cage at home versus Winnipeg.

Impact Blackwood has just one win in his last nine contests, posting a 1-5-1 record, 3.66 GAA and .891 save percentage. The netminder continues to split the workload with Kaapo Kahkonen as neither of the two backstops has separated himself from the other.

DECEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Henry Thrun - Back with big club Thrun was recalled from AHL San Jose on Tuesday.

Impact Thrun has two assists, three shots on goal and seven blocked shots in three NHL outings this season. If Marc-Edouard Vlasic(personal) is still unavailable, Thrun should be in the lineup Tuesday against Winnipeg

DECEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Matt Benning - Shifts to IR Benning (lower body) was moved to injured reserve Tuesday, per the NHL media site.

Impact Benning, who is considered week-to-week, hasn't been in the lineup since Dec. 3 against the Rangers. He has collected two assists, 13 shots on goal, 29 blocked shots and 15 hits across 14 appearances this season.

DECEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Henry Thrun - Sent back to minors Thrun was reassigned to AHL San Jose on Monday, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Impact Thrun has played in just four NHL games this season, tallying two assists, three shots and seven blocks while averaging 17:47 of ice time. The decision to demote Thrun could be a temporary cap-saving measure before bringing him back ahead of Tuesday's clash with Winnipeg or an indication that Marc-Edouard Vlasic (personal) will be back with the team.

DECEMBER 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Anthony Duclair - Suffers injury Sunday Duclair (upper body) left Sunday's 5-4 shootout loss to Vegas early in the second period and did not return.

Impact Duclair was injured in a collision with Keegan Kolesar shortly after a faceoff at center ice, per Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News. There was no update on Duclair's status following the contest, so it's unclear at this time if he will be available to play Tuesday against Winnipeg. Duclair has generated six goals, 10 points and 43 shots on net through 25 games this season.

DECEMBER 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jets visit the Sharks on 4-game winning streak

The Winnipeg Jets will attempt to keep their four-game win streak alive when they visit the San Jose Sharks

DECEMBER 11, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kyle Burroughs - Hands out helper Burroughs notched an assist, two shots on goal, two PIM, four hits and four blocked shots in Sunday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Golden Knights.

Impact Burroughs has picked up an assist in three of the last four contests. The 28-year-old defenseman is likely benefiting from the Sharks scoring at least four goals in all five of their games in December -- some of that offense is trickling down to the physical blueliner. He's at four assists, 31 shots on net, 33 PIM, 55 blocked shots and 57 hits through 27 outings overall. Burroughs' defensive skill set should help him stay in a top-four role.

DECEMBER 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE