Justus Annunen will start for Colorado on Friday as Georgiev is battling an upper-body injury. Georgiev's day-to-day prognosis is a promising one for a netminder finally starting to regain his form in the crease after a terrible start to the 2024-25 season, allowing only nine total goals in his previous four games (3-1-0) and posting a .913 SV%.

Sturm left mid-way through the second period and was unable to return. We should receive an update on his status ahead of San Jose's game in Pittsburgh on Saturday.

After a stretch of only playing one of eight games, resulting from a horrendous start of allowing three or more goals in his first five games (1-3-0) and posting a .810 SV%, Georgiev has started three straight (2-1-0), allowing seven goals combined and posting a solid .921 SV%. The Avalanche are riding a two-game winning streak and enter the action on Wednesday as -139 home favorites against a Los Angeles Kings club that has lost two of their past three (1-2-0).

Walman ha been a game-time decision the previous two games and will be again on Thursday. The 28-year-old Walman has been productive from the blueline in his first season with the Sharks, scoring nine points (1G / 8A) in 13 games, highlighted by seven points (1G / 6A) in his last four contests.

After a stretch of only playing one of eight games, resulting from a horrendous start of allowing three or more goals in his first five games (1-3-0) and posting a .810 SV%, Georgiev has started three straight (2-1-0), allowing seven goals combined and posting a solid .921 SV%. The Avalanche are riding a two-game winning streak and enter the action on Wednesday as -139 home favorites against a Los Angeles Kings club that has lost two of their past three (1-2-0).

Grundstrom will take a seat on Monday as Will Smith (maintenance) draws back into the lineup. Grundstrom has no goals and three assists in 14 games with the Sharks this season.

On the tail end of a back-to-back, the Sharks were contemplating taking Celebrini out of the lineup for a maintenance day. The 18-year-old rookie has been impressive early in his first season, despite being limited to only four games due to injury, with four points (3G / 1A). The Sharks have been liberal about resting their young talent early in the season, including resting 19-year-old Will Smith last night.

An atrocious start to the season resulted in Georgiev only playing one game during an eight-game stretch from mid-October to early November. However, after two serviceable efforts (1-1-0), allowing five total goals and posting a .915 SV%, the Avalanche will turn to Georgiev for a third straight contest on Monday night. Colorado enters Monday's contest as -144 home favorites against a Nashville Predators club in last place in the Central Division (5-9-1).

On the tail end of a back-to-back, the Sharks are contemplating taking Celebrini out of the lineup for a development day. The 18-year-old rookie has been impressive early in his first season, despite being limited to only four games due to injury, with four points (3G / 1A). The Sharks have been liberal about resting their young talent early in the season, including resting 19-year-old Will Smith last night.

On the tail end of a back-to-back, a night after a 1-0 win over the New Jersey Devils courtesy of an incredible 44-save shutout by Mackenzie Blackwood, the Sharks will turn to Vanecek between the pipes. The 28-year-old Vanecek has a 3.32 GAA and .898 SV% in eight games this season (2-5-0). The Sharks enter the action on Monday as +227 road underdogs against a Philadelphia Flyers club that has lost three of their last four (1-2-1).

Smith had the night off on Sunday, a scheduled development day, but will draw back into the lineup on Monday against the Philadelphia Flyers. After scoring zero points in his first eight games, the 19-year-old Smith has three points (2G / 1A) in his previous four outings.

Carlsson has not played a game with the Sharks this season and will start his 2024-25 campaign with the San Jose Barracuda. The 27-year-old Carlsson scored 39 points (15G / 24A) in 52 games with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) last season.

Thompson will remain in the Sharks lineup on Tuesday as Jake Walman is unable to suit up due to an upper-body injury. The 22-year-old Thompson has been productive from the blueline for the Sharks, scoring four points (1G / 3A) in seven games this season.

Walman was a surprise healthy scratch on Tuesday per a coaches decision but will miss a second consecutive game on Thursday due to an upper-body injury. The 28-year-old Walman has been productive from the blueline in his first season with the Sharks, scoring nine points (1G / 8A) in 13 games, highlighted by seven points (1G / 6A) in his last four contests.

The Sharks have won three of their last four games, two with Vanecek between the pipes, and will turn to him for a second consecutive start for the first time this season. The 28-year-old Vanecek has been serviceable between the pipes for a Sharks club with a -17 goal differential, second-worst in the league, posting a 3.21 GAA and .902 SV% in seven outings (2-4-0). That said, the Sharks enter the action on Thursday as significant +225 home underdogs against a Minnesota Wild club with only two regulation losses (8-2-2).