SAN JOSE -- The Sharks are looking to get back in the win column and into first place in the Pacific Division. But to do that, they’ll have to overcome a tough competitor in the Nashville Predators.
Team Teal will have Evander Kane back in the lineup for the first since Feb. 26 against the Boston Bruins. It isn’t entirely clear where he will pencil into the lineup, but it’s likely he will return to skating on Tomas Hertl’s wing.
In injury news, Erik Karlsson took part in Saturday’s optional skate for the first time since leaving that same game against the Bruins last month, although the defenseman isn’t ready to return to game action yet.
The Predators visit San Jose on the tail end of a three-game swing through California, having fallen to the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 on Tuesday and defeating the L.A. Kings 3-1 on Thursday. Nashville currently in second place in the Central Division, one point behind the Winnipeg Jets.
The Sharks currently are in second in their division as well, with the Calgary Flames defeating the New York Rangers 5-1 on Friday night and regaining first place in the division standings by one point.
This is the third and final time the Sharks and Predators will face each other this regular season. In 72 total matchups between the franchises, San Jose holds a 36-28-2-6 record.
Sharks projected lines and pairs
San Jose Sharks
Timo Meier – Logan Couture – Joe Pavelski
Evander Kane – Tomas Hertl – Gustav Nyquist
Marcus Sorensen – Joe Thornton – Kevin Labanc
Micheal Haley – Barclay Goodrow – Melker Karlsson
Joakim Ryan – Brent Burns
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Tim Heed
Brenden Dillon – Justin Braun
Martin Jones – projected starter
Aaron Dell
Predators projected lines and pairs
Filip Forsberg – Ryan Johansen – Viktor Arvidsson
Mikael Granlund – Nick Bonino – Wayne Simmonds
Calle Jarnkrok – Colton Sissons – Craig Smith
Brian Boyle – Frederick Gaudreau – Rocco Grimaldi
Roman Josi – Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm – P.K. Subban
Matt Irwin – Yannick Weber
Juuse Saros – projected starter
Pekka Rinne