Askarov has been assigned back to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL), an indication that Vitek Vanecek (upper body) could be ready to return from an AHL conditioning stint. The 22-year-old Askarov has a 3.10 GAA and .896 SV% in 13 games with the Sharks this season (4-6-2).
With Connor Murphy returning from a multi-week absence due to a groin injury, Allan will be sent to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 21-year-old Allan is averaging 15:12 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 41 games this season.
Wennberg is battling an upper-body injury and will not play on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 30-year-old forward is averaging 18:14 time-on-ice and has 23 points (8G / 15A) in 52 games this season. Carl Grundstrom will draw into San Jose's lineup as Wennberg's replacement.
The Golden Knights surrendered a two-goal lead in an eventual 4-3 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday and will revert to Samsonov between the pipes on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 30-year-old Samsonov has a 2.78 GAA and .893 SV% in 19 games (12-6-1). He has lost three of his last four outings (1-3-0), posting an ugly .852 SV%. The Golden Knights enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -290 home favorites against a Blue Jackets squad with a 7-2-1 record in their last 10.
With Kasperi Kapanen battling an illness, Skinner gets the opportunity to re-enter the lineup for Edmonton on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. Skinner scored a goal in his last game, snapping a four-game pointless skid. He has 16 points (8G / 8A) in 44 games this season.
Ethan Del Mastro will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes, allowing Allan to re-enter the lineup after a one-game absence. The 21-year-old Allan has been solid in his rookie season, averaging 15:10 time-on-ice and scoring eight points (1G / 7A) in 40 games.
The Sharks six-game losing skid snapped on Monday when Askarov saved 29 of 30 shots (.967 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Penguins. The 22-year-old Askarov will return to the crease on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken, looking to build on his 2.87 GAA and .905 SV% through 12 games with the Sharks this season (4-5-2).
Sherwood has not played the previous two games due to an undisclosed injury and has been placed on Injured Reserve retroactive to January 23rd. The 29-year-old Sherwood is averaging 14:36 time-on-ice and has 21 points (13G / 8A) in 47 games this season.
The Penguins have been outscored 11-3 in their last three games (0-3-0) and will turn to Nedeljkovic between the pipes on Wednesday against the Utah Hockey Club. Nedeljkovic was solid in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%), but came up short in a 2-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks. The 29-year-old goalie has a 3.21 GAA and .894 SV% in 23 appearances (9-9-4). The Penguins enter Wednesday's contest as +120 road underdogs against a Utah team amid a two-game losing skid (0-2-0).
T.J. Brodie will draw back into Chicago's lineup on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, resulting in Allan being a healthy scratch. The 21-year-old Allan is averaging 15:10 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) through 40 games in his rookie season.
Nurse is battling an illness and his status for Monday's game against the Seattle Kraken was up in the air. The 29-year-old Nurse is averaging 21:44 time-on-ice and 21 points (4G / 17A) in 46 games this season.
Askarov will make his 11th start of the season when the Sharks host the Penguins on Monday. The young netminder struggled in his last start, allowing six goals on 38 shots in a 6-5 loss to his former team, the Nashville Predators. Askarov owns a 3-5-2 record and an .899 SV% on the season. He's got a decent chance of getting back in the win column on Monday as the Sharks enter action at +140 on the money line.
The Penguins have been outscored 9-2 in their last two games (0-2-0) and will turn to Nedeljkovic between the pipes on Monday against the San Jose Sharks. Nedeljkovic struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 33 shots (.879 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. The 29-year-old netminder has a 3.26 GAA and .893 SV% in 22 appearances this season (9-8-4). The Penguins enter Monday's contest as -158 road favorites against a Sharks team amid a six-game losing skid (0-6-0).
Nurse is battling an illness and his status for Monday's game against the Seattle Kraken. The 29-year-old Nurse is averaging 21:44 time-on-ice and 21 points (4G / 17A) in 46 games this season.
With Connor McDavid returning from a three-game suspension, Skinner will likely be the odd-man out of the lineup. Skinner scored a goal in his last game, snapping a four-game pointless skid. He has 16 points (8G / 8A) in 44 games this season.
Marchment has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on December 27th, missing 15 straight games, but appears to be nearing a return after being a full participant at practice on Monday. Before his injury, the 29-year-old Marchment was pacing for a career-best season with 27 points (12G / 15A) in 33 games. Dallas returns to action on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Dellandrea won't be eligible to return until, at earliest, January 30th against the Seattle Kraken. The 24-year-old Dellandra is averaging 11:45 time-on-ice and has five points (1G / 4A) in 41 games this season.
San Jose's recent acquisition of Walker Duehr off of waivers from the Calgary Flames made Graf a healthy scratch on Thursday before being sent down to the AHL on Friday. The 22-year-old Graf averaged 14:17 time-on-ice and had two points (0G / 2A) in 10 games this season.
Allan has been sidelined the last few games for the Blackhawks but will re-enter the lineup on Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, replacing T.J. Brodie. The 21-year-old Allan is averaging 15:11 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 38 games this season.
