8:09 pm
December 18

Sharks @ Wild

Who will WIN this matchup?

San Jose Sharks (18-11-5)

@ Minnesota Wild (17-13-2)

 

Starting Goalies:

Martin Jones (SJ): Confirmed

Devan Dubnyk (MIN): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

San Jose Sharks: (+105)

Minnesota Wild: (-125)

 

• Defenseman Brent Burns set up three goals versus the Blackhawks to give him five assists in his last three games and boost his team-leading total to 30. The 33-year-old also had a pair of assists Nov. 6 in San Jose’s 4-3 win over Minnesota, which selected him with the 20th overall pick of the 2003 NHL Draft. Evander Kane has answered a stretch of collecting one point in eight games by scoring three goals and setting up another in his last five.

• Captain Mikko Koivu is expected to end a four-game absence and return from a lower-body injury Tuesday night versus San Jose, against which he boosted his career total to 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in the series after setting up two scores in the season’s first encounter. The 35-year-old Finn skated on a line with Jason Zucker and Luke Kunin during Monday’s practice. While Koivu is set to join his mates for game action, coach Bruce Boudreau told reporters that the return of offensive-minded defenseman Matt Dumba (12 goals, 22 points) is at least one week away as he nurses an upper-body injury sustained in Saturday’s setback versus the Flames.

• Minnesota C Eric Staal has scored 10 of his 12 goals this season at home heading into a tilt with San Jose, against which he has netted 13 in 20 career encounters.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Minnesota Wild
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