Couture may be shut down for the final few games of the season due to a lower-body injury. With Couture out on Friday, Alexander True will draw back into the lineup and Patrick Marleau will move into the top-6.
The 2017 No.17 overall pick has scored two goals with seven assists (nine points) in 14 games. Liljegren will replace Jake Muzzin, who will be given a maintenance evening. Liljegren has one assist in 11 career NHL games.
Thursday will be Kaut's 11th career NHL game and second of the 2021 season. Kaut will draw in because both Mikko Rantanen and Joonas Donskoi are on the COVID-19 protocol list. The 21-year-old has two goals and one assist in his first 10 NHL games and has 14 points (5G / 9A) in 13 AHL games this season.
Svechnikov has missed the last two games but will play Monday in Dallas. It's unclear where Svechnikov will slot back into the lineup but he comes in with three goals and two assists (five points) in 14 games this season.
Vlasic has missed the last five games with an upper-body injury but will play tonight in Minnesota. Vlasic, who has just five points (1G / 4A) in 37 games this season, will return on the third pairing with no PP usage, so leave him on the waiver wire.
Vlasic suffered an upper-body injury early in Saturday's game in Los Angeles and is expected to miss all three games this week. With Vlasic out on Tuesday, look for Christian Jaros to make his Sharks debut.
Lindblom will be scratched for the second time in three games with Michael Raffl drawing back in to replace him.
Toffoli has missed the last four games but all signs point to him returning to the lineup on Saturday. Toffoli, who has 18 goals and nine assists in 30 games this season, skated on the third line with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jonathan Drouin in the morning skate.
Couture was hurt on a high-stick from Jeff Carter on Wednesday but said he's good-to-go on Friday. Couture said that his neck is stiff but should play in Arizona. The Sharks' top line has been excellent all season but Couture has just one goal and no assists in his last seven games.
Toffoli was scratched from Saturday's game vs. the Canucks and will miss all three games vs. Edmonton this week. With Toffoli out, Artturi Lehkonen will remain on the Habs' third line on Monday.
Svechnikov was scratched for the last three games but will replace Bobby Ryan (undisclosed) in the lineup on Tuesday. Svechnikov has been efficient so far this season, scoring two goals with two assists in four games.
Carlsson has been in the lineup in the last two games but will be replaced by Nicolas Beaudin on Thursday. Carlsson has just one assist in 12 games this season.
Nutivaara has missed the last 12 games with an upper-body injury but will play tonight in Columbus. Nutivaara will replace Kevin Connauton in the lineup and re-enters with three assists in seven games this season.
Gregor plated 7:42 TOI on Saturday but will be scratched for the third time in four games on Monday. Alexander True will replace him on the fourth line.
