The Sharks are amid their second eight-game losing skid of the season and will attempt to return to the win column with Askarov between the pipes on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Askarov played well in his most recent outing, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in a 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames. The 22-year-old Askarov has a 2.62 GAA and .915 SV% in five NHL games this season (1-2-2). The Sharks enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +227 road underdogs against a Lightning club coming off a 5-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

Grundstrom exited Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames after only 1:34 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury and has not played since. The 27-year-old forward has five points (1G / 4A) in 30 games this season.

Amid a seven-game losing skid, the Sharks hope to return to the win column on New Year's Eve with Georgiev between the pipes. Georgiev has allowed four or more goals in three straight (0-3-0), posting an ugly .869 SV%. The Sharks enter Tuesday's contest as +150 home underdogs against a Philadelphia Flyers club that defeated them 4-3 in a shootout on November 11th.

Eklund exited last Monday's game with an upper-body injury after playing only 7:39 time-on-ice and has not played since. The 22-year-old forward is averaging 19:43 time-on-ice and has 27 points (7G / 20A) in 36 games this season. In a corresponding move, the Sharks recalled Collin Graf from the San Jose Barracuda (AHL).

Graf made his NHL debut last season, scoring two points (0G / 2A) in seven games with the Sharks. The undrafted 22-year-old, a product of Quinnipiac University, has 26 points (6G / 20A) in 29 games with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) this season.

Kovalenko was a healthy scratch in Saturday's game vs. the Flames, but he'll replace Carl Grundstrom (undisclosed) in Tuesday's lineup. Since joining the Sharks, Kovalenko has picked up five assists and four shots in eight games.

Grundstrom exited Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames after only 1:34 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury. The 27-year-old forward has five points (1G / 4A) in 30 games this season.

Vanecek was hit by an arrant puck while on the bench last Tuesday and has not suited up since. The Sharks recalled Yaroslav Askarov from the San Jose Barracuda (AHL), who has played two games for the Sharks since Vanecek's injury.

Kostin has not played since December 12th and will miss a sixth consecutive game on Friday. The 25-year-old Kostin is averaging 10:12 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 20 games this season.

Walman will miss a second consecutive game on Friday due to a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old Walman is having a tremendous 2024-25 campaign, with 25 points (5G / 20A) in 31 games. He has 23 points (5G / 18A) in his last 22 games.

Eklund exited Monday's game with an upper-body injury after playing only 7:39 time-on-ice and will not play on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 22-year-old forward is averaging 19:43 time-on-ice and has 27 points (7G / 20A) in 36 games this season.

Georgiev did not play the last two games for San Jose but will return to the crease on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 28-year-old Georgiev has an ugly 3.75 GAA and .869 SV% in three games since joining the Sharks (1-2-0). The Sharks have lost five straight and enter Friday's contest as significant +210 home underdogs against a Golden Knights club riding a four-game winning streak.

Askarov was tremendous in a 3-2 overtime loss on Saturday, saving 39 of 42 shots (.929 SV%), and will return to the crease on Monday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 22-year-old Askarov has been excellent in a small sample size at the NHL level this season, posting a 2.30 GAA and .928 SV% in three games (1-0-2). That said, the Sharks enter Monday's contest as significant +214 road underdogs against a Canucks club amid a three-game losing skid (0-1-2).

Walman will not play on Monday against the Vancouver Canucks due to an undisclosed ailment. The 28-year-old Walman is having a tremendous 2024-25 campaign, with 25 points (5G / 20A) in 31 games. He has 23 points (5G / 18A) in his last 22 games.

Askarov was tremendous in a 3-2 overtime loss on Saturday, saving 39 of 42 shots (.929 SV%), and will likely return to the crease on Monday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 22-year-old Askarov has been excellent in a small sample size at the NHL level this season, posting a 2.30 GAA and .928 SV% in three games (1-0-2). That said, the Sharks enter Monday's contest as significant +214 road underdogs against a Canucks club amid a three-game losing skid (0-1-2).