MacDonald hasn't played since November 4th, when he scored two points (1G / 1A), due to an undisclosed injury. He will return to the Sharks lineup on Monday and will likely play on the fourth line alongside Givani Smith and Ryan Carpenter.
The Sharks recorded their first victory of the season without Blackwood between the pipes on Friday but will turn back to him on Monday when they visit the Vancouver Canucks. Blackwood's 4.02 GAA and .898 SV% are nothing to marvel at but considering the circumstances of playing on a league-worst Sharks team, the 26-year-old goaltender has played admirably, making at least 38 saves in three of his last four contests (2-2-0) while posting a .929 SV%. Heroics of Blackwood aside, the Sharks are huge +318 road underdogs against a Canucks team that already beat the Sharks earlier this month by a whopping 10-1 score.
Jake Oettinger started the last three games for the Stars (2-1-0), allowing three or more goals in each, capped off by allowing five unanswered goals in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. As a result, Pete DeBoer and the Stars coaching staff have opted to rest Oettinger in Monday's contest against the New York Rangers, as Wedgewood will start for the fifth time this season. Wedgewood has been solid when called upon, posting a 3.02 GAA and .917 SV% through four games this season (3-1-0). That said, the Rangers have been tough to beat this season, winning 10 of their last 11 (10-0-1) while scoring four or more goals in five consecutive games (5-0-0).
Gushchin had an assist, and three SOG while averaging 14:57 TOI in two games with San Jose but has been loaned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) Friday. The 21-year-old right winger returns to the AHL, where he was on a tear earlier in the season with four goals, 13 points, six PIMs and a +3 plus/minus.
Barre-Boulet will sit in favour of Austin Watson, who draws back into the Lightning lineup on Thursday. Barre-Boulet has four goals and three assists in 14 games on the season.
Girard missed Colorado's previous game due to an undisclosed injury but is expected to return to the Avalanche lineup Wednesday vs. Anaheim. The 25-year-old defensemen is in his seventh NHL season and has an assist, 13 SOG, and a -8 plus/minus through 13 games played so far this season.
Manson remains day-to-day after missing Colorado's Monday night matchup against the Seattle Kraken and will remain out of the lineup on Wednesday when the team takes on the Anaheim Ducks. The 10-year-veteran is averaging a career-low 15:59 time-on-ice through 13 games, nearly a full two minutes less than any previous season, while tallying one point (0G / 1A), 18 blocks, and 20 hits. The Avalanche has recalled defenceman Sam Malinski and Caleb Jones from the Colorado Eagles of the AHL.
Gushchin, the 76th overall pick of the Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, will make his season debut on Tuesday. He played his first two NHL games last season, tallying two points (1G / 1A) with the Sharks. This season with the Barracuda, Gushchin has 13 points (4G / 9A) in 11 games.
Blackwood will start for the 11th time in 16 games for the Sharks against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. The Sharks' struggles as the league-worst offence (1.20 GF / GP) and league-worst defence (4.40 GA / GP) have been well documented this season, but nearly as astonishing has been the play of Blackwood between the pipes. Despite the Sharks' inability to compete in most games, Blackwood has recorded a quality start in 60% of his games. His .900 SV% speaks volumes to his level of play this season but hopes for a win remain low as the Sharks are +241 home underdogs on Tuesday.
Malinski made his NHL debut Monday and was a +1 plus/minus across 17 shifts and 12:02 TOI but will head back to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) Monday. The 25-year-old rookie defensemen returns to the Eagles, where he had three goals, six points and two PIMS in 13 games prior to his promotion.
There was no indication from the team that Manson was in danger of missing Monday's game prior to the Roster Report being finalized shortly before puck drop. The 32-year-old defenseman has registered no goals and one assist in 13 games this season.
There was no indication from the team that Girard was in danger of missing Monday's game prior to the Roster Report being finalized shortly before puck drop. The 25-year-old defenseman has registered no goals and one assist in 13 games this season.
The former Cornell University blue-liner is set to make his NHL debut after signing with the Avalanche as an undrafted free agent last March. Malinski has six goals and six assists in 20 career AHL games.
Gushchin was the 76th overall pick of the Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He played his first two NHL games last season, tallying two points (1G / 1A) with the Sharks. This season with the Barracuda, Gushchin has 13 points (4G / 9A) in 11 games. In a corresponding move, Oskar Lindblom was reassigned to the AHL.
Francouz battled injuries last season as well, recording a 2.61 GAA and .915 SV% while playing in only 16 games (8-7-1). Ivan Prosvetov will continue to serve as the backup to Alexandar Georgiev.
