Smith (upper-body) will be a game-time decision on Saturday vs. Florida.
San Jose Sharks News
Goalie Start
Nedeljkovic will start in New York on Friday.
The Penguins have won a season-best four straight games and will attempt to extend it on Friday against the New York Rangers. Nedeljkovic has only played one of the last four games but was excellent in it, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Calgary Flames. That said, Nedeljkovic is sporting a less impressive 3.31 GAA and .883 SV% in 12 appearances this season (4-4-3). The Penguins enter the action on Friday as +157 road underdogs against a New York Rangers club that defeated them 6-0 in their only other meeting this season.
Line Change
Thompson is expected to draw back into San Jose's lineup in Tampa Bay on Thursday.
Henry Thrun will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Thompson to return to the lineup. The 22-year-old Thompson has played a career-high 13 games, and has five points (2G / 3A) while averaging 15:5 time-on-ice.
Reaves will return from his five-game suspension on Wednesday vs. Nashville.
Alex Nylander will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Reaves to draw back into the lineup for the first time since November 16th. The 37-year-old Reaves is averaging 7:51 time-on-ice, recording one point (0G / 1A), 23 penalty minutes, and 44 hits in 16 games.
Grundstrom will draw back into San Jose's lineup in Washington on Tuesday.
Ethan Cardwell will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Grundstrom to play his first game since November 27th. The 27-year-old Grundstrom is averaging 9:06 time-on-ice, scoring four points (0G / 4A) in 22 games.
Line Change
Cardwell will be a heatlhy scratch in Washington on Tuesday.
Carl Grundstrom will draw back into the Sharks lineup on Tuesday, sending Cardwell to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Cardwell is in his first NHL season and is averaging 11:33 time-on-ice, scoring one point (1G / 0A) in five games.
Bowers has been assigned to Utica (AHL).
Bowers was the 28th overall pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. The 25-year-old has only played 13 career NHL games, including four with the Devils this season.
Goalie Start
Nedeljkovic will start vs. Calgary on Saturday.
Line Change
Bowers will draw into New Jersey's lineup on Saturday vs. Washington.
Line Change
Cardwell will draw back into the Sharks' lineup vs. Seattle on Friday.
The 22-year-old Cardwell made his NHL debut this season and went scoreless in three games with the Sharks. He has one goal and six assists through 13 games with the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL.
Desharnais will draw back into Vancouver's lineup on Friday in Buffalo.
Filip Hronek (upperbody) will not play on Friday, allowing Desharnais to re-enter the lineup for the Canucks. The 28-year-old Desharnais has played 11 games this season, averaging 14:54 time-on-ice and scoring one point (0G / 1A).
Goodrow (upper-body) has been placed on IR.
Cardwell has been recalled from the San Jose Barracuda (AHL).
Line Change
Kurashev is expected to draw back into Chicago's lineup vs. Dallas on Wednesday.
Despite placing second on the Blackhawks with 54 points (18G / 36A) last season, Kurashev was a healthy scratch in their most recent game. The 25-year-old Kurashev only has four points (3G / 1A) in 18 games this season. Joey Anderson will exit the lineup on Wednesday to make way for Kurashev.
Thompson has been recalled from the San Jose Barracuda (AHL).
Thompson has been effective for the Sharks this season but hasn't been a consistent fixture in their lineup. The 22-year-old Thompson is averaging 15:56 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 13 games with the Sharks this season.
Askarov has been re-assigned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL).
Askarov was tremendous in a two-game stint with the Sharks but has been sent down to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) due to Vitek Vanecek returning from injury. The 22-year-old Askarov posted a 1.96 GAA and .927 SV% in two games (1-0-1).
Goalie Start
Askarov will start against the Kings on Monday.
The 22-year-old netminder will make his second start of the season when the Sharks host the Kings on Monday. Askarov was phenomenal in his Sharks debut, stopping 29 of the 31 shots he faced in an eventual 3-2 shootout loss to the Blues. He'll have to be sharp again on Monday as the Sharks enter action as +200 home underdogs to the Kings.
Thompson has been re-assigned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL).
Thompson has been effective for the Sharks this season but has been sent down to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL). The 22-year-old Thompson was averaging 15:56 time-on-ice and had five points (2G / 3A) in 13 games with the Sharks this season.
Vlasic (back) will travel on San Jose's upcoming road trip and could be an option to return.
Vlasic has missed all 23 games to start the season due to a back injury but appears to be nearing his return to the lineup. The 37-year-old stay-at-home defenseman is entering his 19th NHL season (all with San Jose) after putting up six goals, 12 points and a -27 plus/minus in 57 games played in 2023-24.
Line Change
Bowers will draw back into New Jersey's lineup vs. Nashville on Monday.
Bowers was the 27th overall pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. The 25-year-old forward has only played 10 career NHL games, including one this season with the Devils. He has three points (0G / 3A) in 13 games with the Utica Comets (AHL) this season. He will replaced Nolan Foote in the lineup on Monday.