Kozak has been a regular in Buffalo's lineup the past couple weeks but will be sidelined, possible for the remainder of the season, due to a hip strain. The 22-year-old forward has five points (3G / 2A) through 21 games in his rookie season.
Ostlund was the 16th overall pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old forward has been enjoying a productive campaign in the AHL, scoring 36 points (19G / 17A) in 44 games with the Rochester Americans.
The Sharks have recalled Gabriel Carriere from the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) to serve as Georgi Romanov's backup on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers since Georgiev is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. The 29-year-old Georgiev has a 3.64 GAA and .876 SV% in 45 appearances this season (15-24-2).
The Sharks have been outscored 14-2 in their last two games (0-2-0) and will turn to Georgiev between the pipes on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 29-year-old Georgiev allowed six goals on 33 shots in his most recent outing (.818 SV%). He has a 3.66 GAA and .874 SV% in 44 games this season. The Sharks enter the action on Tuesday as +170 road underdogs against a Ducks team that has won four of their last six (4-2-0).
Norris has not played since March 12th and remains sidelined with a mid-boy injury and no certainty as to when he may return to the lineup. Norris was productive early in his tenure with Buffalo, recording two points (1G / 1A) and averaging 18:36 time-on-ice but has been limited to only three games.
Leinonen was a second-round pick, 41st overall, of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old goalie has spent the 2024-25 season with Mora IK (Swe-1), posting a 2.31 GAA and .910 SV% in 25 games (13-10-0).
Dunne is an undrafted 26-year-old forward that played two games with the Sabres this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. He has 26 points (9G / 17A) in 58 games with the Rochester Americans (AHL).
Dunne will slot in for Jason Zucker, who is out due to a personal matter. Dunne has appeared in just one other game for the Sabres this season and is yet to register a point through 15 career NHL games.
The Sharks are coming off a 3-1 win over the Bruins when Georgiev saved 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%), and he will return to the crease on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 29-year-old Georgiev has an unflattering 3.57 GAA and .876 SV% in 42 appearances this season (14-23-1) but was excellent in an outing against the Maple Leafs earlier this month, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) in a 3-2 shootout win. Still, the Sharks enter Thursday's contest as sizable +210 home underdogs against a Maple Leafs team coming off a 7-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
