Kahkonen has settled into his role as the Sharks' backup goaltender this season, with three quality starts in his last four outings, and will start on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. Kahkonen is riding consecutive wins for the first time this season and has saved 74 of the last 80 shots he has faced (.925 SV%). The Sharks and Kahkonen face off against the sixth-worst offence in the league (2.78 GF / GP) but are still considerable +279 road underdogs against the Islanders.

Sturm did not play on Sunday but is expected to return to the Sharks' lineup on Tuesday and skate on a line with Justin Bailey and Kevin Labanc. Sturm is averaging 14:48 time-on-ice through 22 games this season but has only two points (0G / 2A), being held without a point in 91% of contests.

Balinskis has spent most of the season with the Panthers but is returning from a one-game stint with the Charlotte Checkers, where he scored one point (1G / 0A). In 15 games with the Panthers, the Latvian defender has two points (1G / 1A), six penalty minutes, and a +1 plus/minus rating.

Bjornfot did not see any action in his most recent call up to Los Angeles having only appeared for the team on October 11th and has been reassigned to Ontario (AHL) Friday. The 22-year-old defensemen heads back to the minors, where he has yet to pick up a point in three games during his previous AHL stint this season.

Nosek has been out since November 18th and will not return to the Devils' lineup for an indefinete amount of time after he re-aggravated his right foot injury and had to get surgery. The 31-year-old did not pick up a point in any of his six games prior to his injury and will hope to return sooner rather than later after this latest set back.

Balinskis had a goal, an assist, 16 SOG, six PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in 15 games played so far in 2023-24 but has been loaned back to Charlotte (AHL) on Friday. The 27-year-old defensemen will head to the Checkers for the first time in his career after making his NHL and North American debut this season.

Schmidt will be a healthy scratch on Saturday, allowing Declan Chisholm to make his season debut. The 32-year-old Schmidt is averaging only 16:51 time-on-ice through 20 games this season, significantly less than the 19:16 he has averaged over his career. He has one point (0G / 1A), a -4 plus/minus, 23 blocks, and nine hits.

Kahkonen and the Sharks have been much better of late but will be tested on Friday against the New Jersey Devils, who have won three straight, outscoring their opposition 16-9. Kahkonen has won two of his last three starts, including a heroic 44-save performance in a 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Blue on November 16th. That said, Kahkonen could play the game of his life and still come up short, as the Sharks are massive +401 road underdogs against the Devils. The Sharks and Devils are both playing back ends of a back-to-back, the Sharks having lost 3-0 to the Boston Bruins last night while the Devils were victorious 4-3 over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Bobrovsky is coming off a light, 20-save performance against the Ottawa Senators on Monday, in which he recorded his second shutout of the season in a commanding 5-0 victory. Bobrovsky will return to the crease on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens, a team he has been terrific against throughout his career, posting a 2.48 GAA and .921 SV% in 24 games (15-7-1). The Panthers are sizeable -244 road favourites against the Canadiens, who played last night in a 4-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets and rank sixth-worst in the league offensively (2.77 GF / GP).

Vanecek is coming off his lightest workload of the season, facing only 12 shots in a 7-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, and will be the Devils' starter once again on Tuesday. The four-year NHL pro has never had a sub.-908 SV% or above 2.69 GAA to end a season but is currently sporting an ugly .884 SV% and 3.32 GAA. Vanecek has only five quality starts in 13 games, a trend that shows no signs of reversing. That said, he continues to be the Devils' go-to option between the pipes and could be in for a better-than-usual performance as the Devils are -156 home favourites against a New York Islanders team that scores the third-fewest goals in the league (2.55 GF / GP).

Vanecek is coming off his lightest workload of the season, facing only 12 shots in a 7-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, and appears to be the Devils' starter once again on Tuesday. The four-year NHL pro has never had a sub.-908 SV% or above 2.69 GAA to end a season but is currently sporting an ugly .884 SV% and 3.32 GAA. Vanecek has only five quality starts in 13 games, a trend that shows no signs of reversing. That said, he continues to be the Devils' go-to option between the pipes and could be in for a better-than-usual performance as the Devils are -156 home favourites against a New York Islanders team that scores the third-fewest goals in the league (2.55 GF / GP).

Kulikov has six points (0G / 6A) in 19 games and was a healthy scratch in the last two games for the Panthers but will return to the lineup on Monday in favour of Uvis Balinskis. Kulikov and Balinskis will likely continue to rotate in and out of the lineup now that Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour have returned from injuries.

Balinskis has two points (1G / 1A) in 15 games this season and will be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Dmitry Kulikov to return to the Panthers' lineup. Balinskis has been a healthy scratch in four of the last five games for the Panthers, a trend that will likely continue now that Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour have returned from injuries.

Bobrovsky played very well on Friday but received no goal support, saving 28 of 30 shots (.933 SV%) in a 3-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets and will get the chance to bounce back into the win column on Monday against the Ottawa Senators. Bobrovsky has lost three of his last four (1-3-0) but has played some of his best hockey of the season in terms of consistency, allowing three goals or fewer in each of those games and posting a .910 SV%. The Panthers are -125 road favourites against a Senators team that could again be without goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, who has been between the pipes for five of the Senators' eight wins this season.

Vanecek allowed four goals on 28 shots in the Devils' loss in Detroit on Wednesday. Vanecek has struggled in his last five outings, going 1-3-0 with an .860 SV%. Tonight he'll face the Sabres, as -166 home favourites. Buffalo come in ranking 24th in the NHL in GF/60 (2.83).

San Jose will continue to shuffle their goals as Kaapo Kahkonen makes his third start in five games Saturday vs. Vancouver. It has been yet another horrendous season in San Jose for the 27-year-old, who is 1-6-0 with a 4.30 GAA and .887 SV%. He takes on the offensive juggernauts that are the Vancouver Canucks, who have won two of their last three games and lead the NHL in goals per game (4.05).