Schwartz played only 9:33 time-on-ice in Seattle's 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday before leaving the game with a lower-body injury and has not been placed on injured reserve and is expected out around six weeks. Before his injury, Schwartz was in the midst of a cold streak, scoring only one point (0G / 1A) and registering a -5 plus/minus in his last eight games.
Blackwood did not play in the Sharks' 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday but will return to the crease on Monday when they take on the Washington Capitals. Blackwood has played exceptionally for the last-place Sharks over his last seven games (2-3-1), recording an impressive .917 SV%. The Sharks are +188 home underdogs against a Capitals team coming off a 5-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Friday. Blackwood was heroic in a losing effort against the Capitals on October 29th, saving 39 of 41 shots (.951 SV%) in a 3-1 loss.
MacKinnon is dealing with an illness that made him a game-time decision for Colorado's Monday night meeting against the Tampa Bay Lightning. MacKinnon has been producing at-will lately, scoring 17 points (3G / 14A) in his last 10 games, playing predominantly on a line with Mikko Rantanen and Valeri Nichushkin.
Blackwood did not play in the Sharks' 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday but will likely return to the crease on Monday when they take on the Washington Capitals. Blackwood has played exceptionally for the last-place Sharks over his last seven games (2-3-1), recording an impressive .917 SV%. The Sharks are +188 home underdogs against a Capitals team coming off a 5-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Friday. Blackwood was heroic in a losing effort against the Capitals on October 29th, saving 39 of 41 shots (.951 SV%) in a 3-1 loss.
MacKinnon is dealing with an illness that could keep him out of Colorado's Monday night meeting against the Tampa Bay Lightning. MacKinnon has been producing at-will lately, scoring 17 points (3G / 14A) in his last 10 games, playing predominantly on a line with Mikko Rantanen and Valeri Nichushkin. If MacKinnon is unable to play, expect the Avalanche to thrust Ryan Johansen into a larger role.
MacKinnon was reportedly carted to the X-ray room following Wednesday's game but no update was provided on his status. Until the Avalanche discloses any information on MacKinnon, consider him questionable to play Friday in Minnesota.
Manson hasn't placed since November 11th due to the upper-body injury. Sitting in place of Manson will be Samuel Girard, who is out with an undisclosed injury. Manson has no goals and one assist in 13 games this season.
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).
