Kiviranta did not participate in the morning skate on Thursday due to an illness and will remain out of the lineup for the Avalanche. Kiviranta has not played since March 13th and will miss his sixth straight contest on Thursday.
MacDonald played the last six games for the Sharks but only averaged slightly above 10 minutes of ice time in his last two contests. The 31-year-old defenseman has eight points (6G / 2A), 34 hits, and 17 blocks in 30 games this season.
The Sharks, losers of eight straight, will attempt to stop the bleeding by turning to Blackwood in the crease for the third time in the last four games. Blackwood has allowed 10 combined goals in his last two games, including six on 41 shots (.854 SV%) on Tuesday, a 6-3 loss to the Dallas Stars. The Sharks enter action as sizeable +329 road underdogs against the Minnesota Wild.
The Sharks, losers of eight straight, will attempt to stop the bleeding by turning to Blackwood in the crease for the third time in the last four games. Blackwood has allowed 10 combined goals in his last two games, including six on 41 shots (.854 SV%) on Tuesday, a 6-3 loss to the Dallas Stars. The Sharks enter action as sizeable +329 road underdogs against the Minnesota Wild.
Riding a four-game winning streak, the Stars will turn to Wedgewood between the pipes for the first time since March 16th. Wedgewood has been excellent in limited action lately, posting a .937 SV% across his last three appearances (2-0-0). The Stars enter action as enormous -412 road favourites against the San Jose Sharks. Wedgewood will likely see a consistent workload down the stretch to keep Jake Oettinger fresh as the team prepares for the playoffs.
The Sharks will turn to Blackwood between the pipes for the second time in three games since he returned from a prolonged absence due to injury. The Sharks have lost seven straight, and their fate was no difference inserting Blackwood into the crease, as he allowed four goals on 21 shots (.810 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday.
Wedgewood was away from the team for Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes to attend to the birth of his child. He will return to his usual backup duties behind Oettinger on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Blackwood has been out of the lineup since suffering a groin injury on February 27th. Magnus Chrona has served predominantly as the starting netminder recently due to Blackwood's injury and Kaapo Kahkonen's trade to the New Jersey Devils. With Chrona reassigned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL), Blackwood will likely take control of the Sharks' crease. Blackwood has a 3.48 GAA and .899 SV% in 35 games this season (9-18-3).
Blackwood has been out of the lineup since suffering a groin injury on February 27th. Magnus Chrona has served predominantly as the starting netminder recently due to Blackwood's injury and Kaapo Kahkonen's trade to the New Jersey Devils. With Chrona being reassigned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL), Blackwood will likely take control of the Sharks' crease.
Dallas has recalled Matt Murray from the Texas Stars (AHL) to backup Jake Oettinger in the interim. Wedgewood was excellent in his last outing, saving 27 of 28 shots (.964 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings and will likely return to the team on Friday for their contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Lehkonen has been absent from the last two games but could return to the lineup on Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 28-year-old Lehkonen has been tremendous lately, tallying 13 points (8G / 5A) in his last 12 games.
