Game 21 Preview & Open Thread: Sabers vs Sharks

On By Littum

Game #21

San Jose Sharks (6-11-5) vs. Buffalo Sabres (10-9-1)

Puck Drop: 8:00 PM EST | SAP Center | San Jose, CA

TV: MSG

Know your opponent

San Jose Sharks

Record: 6-11-5 | 17 PTS

Last game: 3-2 loss to St. Louis Blues (shooting)

Division Ranking: 8. in the Pacific Ocean

PP: 17.7%

PK: 81.3%

What to see

1. On a high note

The Sabers will look to end their four-game road and California trip on a high note Saturday night. After Wednesday’s 1-0 win in Los Angeles, the Sabers earned a 3-2 overtime victory on Friday night thanks to Jiri Kulich’s heroics. Now they will look to finish the road trip with another win and sweep California before heading back east.

Entering Saturday’s game, the Sabers are 6-4-0 in their last ten games and 4-4-1 on the road this season.

The Sharks, meanwhile, enter Saturday’s game on a two-game skid, having lost 5-2 (Dallas) and 3-2 (St. Louis) decisions earlier in the week. Overall, the Sharks have lost six of their last seven games. While the Sabers certainly shouldn’t take this one lightly, it’s a game, too should win.

2. The leaders

Alex Tuch & Tage Thompson, both recently/currently dealing with injuries, lead the Sabers with 18 points each this season. JJ Peterka is also creating a nice offensive streak this season with 16 points in 18 games. Also, let’s not forget about Jason Zucker (14 points in 20 games) and Ryan McLeod (12 points in 20 games). Tuch played Friday, while Thompson did not and is questionable for today’s game.

For the Sharks, Mikael Granlund leads the way with 24 points in just 22 games, including 15 assists. His nine goals are also tied for the team lead with colleague Tyler Toffoli. Toffoli has 15 points on the season, while William Eklund has 16 points. Fabian Zetterlund (14) and Alex Wennberg (11) have also hit the double-digit mark.

3. Tribute to Jumbo Joe

The Sharks have spent this weekend so far honoring the legendary Joe Thornton, which continues before tonight’s game against the Sabres. After Thursday was declared “Joe Thornton Day” in San Jose, the team held a special Legends Game Friday night with Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Ryane Clowe and others.

Ahead of Saturday’s game, the Sharks will formally retire #19 in honor of Thornton. Festivities outside the arena begin at 11 a.m. local time, and the retirement ceremony begins at 2:30 p.m. local time – a full 2.5 hours before the puck drops. Fans will also receive a nifty “magic puck” that unfolds to reveal images throughout Thornton’s years in San Jose.

Thornton’s NHL career ended after the 2021–22 season with the Panthers. He finished his career with 1,714 games played and 1,539 points. He spent 15 seasons with the Sharks, playing 1,104 games and scoring 1,055 points there.

Buffalo Sabres

Extenders

JJ Peterka – Ryan McLeod – Alex Tuch
Zach Benson – Dylan Cozens – Sam Lafferty
Jason Zucker – Jiri Kulich – Jack Quinn
Beck Malenstyn – Peyton Krebs – Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Defense

Bowen Byram – Rasmus Dahlin
Owen Power – Henri Jokiharju
Jacob Bryson – Connor Clifton

Goalkeepers: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, James Reimer

San Jose Sharks

Extenders

William Eklund – Mikael Granlund – Fabian Zetterlund
Barclay Goodrow – Macklin Celebrini – Tyler Toffoli
Klim Kostin – Alex Wennberg – Luke Kunin
Carl Grundstrom – Ty Dellandrea – Givani Smith

Defense

Jake Walman – Cody Ceci
Mario Ferraro – Timothy Liljegren
Jan Rutta – Jack Thompson

Goalkeepers: Mackenzie Blackwood, Yaroslav Askarov