Preview/Lines #24: Sturm activates from IR, Cold runs through the locker room

It is unusual for around 4 to 5 game decisions to be made at the start of a game.

However, according to head coach Ryan Warsofsky, that will be the case for the San Jose Sharks on Monday night.

According to a source, a cold is blowing through the locker room.

“We stole a few people,” Warsofsky said.

A couple of players who don’t seem to be a question mark are Nico Sturm and Henry Thrun.

Sturm suffered an upper-body injury against the New York Rangers on November 14th and has been on IR ever since.

But he was activated today and the San Jose Sharks, who have a full 23-man roster, sent defenseman Jack Thompson to the floor.

The Sharks now have 14 forwards, six defensemen and three goalkeepers.

This means that blueliner Thrun, who sat on Saturday evening, is back in the squad, and probably Sturm too.

San Jose Sharks (6-12-5)

So who will start tonight?

Yaroslav Askarov was the first to go to the locker room after the morning skate, but when the media entered his stand was cleared, suggesting he had been sent down.

Mackenzie Blackwood followed, that’s my best guess to start with. But despite everything, Warsofsky did not rule out Askarov starting.

Plus, the Sharks decided to send Thompson over Askarov, so there should be a reason for that, although it could be as simple as the top goalie prospect getting another day or two of NHL compensation.

Vitek Vanecek was the last goalie in the room, so expect him not to be in the starting lineup tonight unless San Jose plans to make a Keyser Soze move in a few hours.

“I won’t tell you the goalie until warm-up,” Warsofsky said.

The Sharks bench boss usually doesn’t back down when it comes to his day starter, maybe that has something to do with the cold that’s wafting through the room, or maybe not.

Los Angeles Kings (11-7-3)

Than that @LAKings Is the 4-2 loss in this building in October still in the back of your mind when you return to San Jose?

“100 percent”

More on how the Kings plan to avenge this performance and more in today’s game preview. https://t.co/GAEnv6eW1y

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) November 25, 2024

Where to see

The puck drop between the San Jose Sharks and the Los Angeles Kings will take place at 7:30 p.m. PT at the SAP Center. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.