Matt Benning will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Vlasic to return to the lineup for only his second game since November 14th. Vlasic has zero points and -8 plus/minus in 14 games this season and is expected to play on the Sharks' second defensive pair alongside Calen Addison.
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.
The Avalanche will hand the reigns back over to Georgiev on Sunday after Ivan Prosvetov got the start in Anaheim on Saturday. Georgiev took the loss in his last start in Thursday's game in Arizona, allowing four goals on 32 shots in the 4-3 overtime defeat. He's struggled to find his form this season, posting an .897 SV% across a league leading 19 appearances. He has a difficult task ahead of him on Sunday with the Avs being slight road underdogs (+115) in Los Angeles.
Kunin was struck in the hand by a shot in Thursday's game in Philadelphia and was able to finish the game, but it will force him to miss Friday's game against the Devils. Kunin has five goals and two assists across 23 games with the Sharks this season.
Poturalski will return to the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL where he has seven points (2G / 5A) in 11 games this season. Poturalski played two games with the Kraken and was held without the point, averaging 6:53 time-on-ice. The Kraken recalled Max McCormick in a corresponding move.
Georgiev has won six of his last seven starts and will likely start on Thursday as the Avalanche, who have won four straight, visit the Arizona Coyotes. Georgiev has been somewhat inconsistent this season but has been tremendous his last three games (3-0-0), saving 84 of 89 shots (.944 SV%) in that stretch. The Avalanche will look to win for the eighth time in their last nine games as they are sizeable -186 road favourites against a Coyotes team that has fared well recently as well, outscoring their opposition 5-1 during a two-game winning streak.
Georgiev has won six of his last seven starts and will likely start on Thursday as the Avalanche, who have won four straight, visit the Arizona Coyotes. Georgiev has been somewhat inconsistent this season but has been tremendous his last three games (3-0-0), saving 84 of 89 shots (.944 SV%) in that stretch. The Avalanche will look to win for the eighth time in their last nine games as they are sizeable -186 road favourites against a Coyotes team that has fared well recently as well, outscoring their opposition 5-1 during a two-game winning streak.
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).
Dellandrea has been struggling in 2023-24 with only an assist, 11 SOG, two PIMs and a -4 plus/minus in 12 games and will be a healthy scratch Tuesday vs. Winnipeg. The four-year veteran will be replaced by Craig Smith on the Stars' fourth line.
Poturalski has four NHL games to his name since the 2016-17 season, scoring two points (2G / 0A), but the 29-year-old is a known AHL commodity who will make his Kraken debut on Tuesday. In his past two seasons with the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL, Poturalski has 49 points (13G / 36A) in 49 games.
Walman was unavailable due to an illness in the last two games for the Red Wings but will likely return to the lineup on Wednesday against the New York Rangers. Walman has eight points (4G/ 4A), 34 shots on goal, and a +8 plus/minus rating through 18 games this season.
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).
Georgiev has started 17 games this season, most in the league, and will start for the 18th time on Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. After a horrendous stretch in late October where he posted a .832 SV% in five games (1-4-0), Georgiev has rebounded nicely, allowing three or fewer goals in five of his last six games (5-1-0), posting a .903 SV%. The Avalanche rank third-best in the league in terms of shot suppression (27.7 SA / GP), so Georgiev's unspectacular save percentage is likely par for the course going forward. That said, Georgiev should continue to pile up victories, starting Monday as the Avalanche are -141 home favourites against the Lightning.
The veteran defenceman played in the Sharks most recent game on Saturday, his first game since November 14th, but will return to being a healthy scratch on Monday when they take on the Washington Capitals. Nikita Okhotyuk will draw back into the Sharks lineup on their third defensive pair.