[7:00 PM] Sharks @ Blackhawks

Who will WIN this matchup?

San Jose Sharks (19-11-1)

@ Chicago Blackhawks (21-8-4)

 

Starting Goalies:

Martin Jones(SJ): Confirmed

Scott Darling(CHI): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

San Jose Sharks: (-125)

Chicago Blackhawks: (+105)

 

• Defenseman Brent Burns is making another run at the Norris Trophy this season and looks to record at least a point for the eighth straight game when his first-place San Jose Sharks visit the equally hot Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. Burns put up career highs of 27 goals and 75 points last season before registering 13 and 29, respectively, in the first 31 contests of 2016-17 for the Sharks — winners of four straight.

• Right wing Timo Meier, the ninth-overall pick in the 2015 draft, made his NHL debut in the 4-2 win over Montreal on Friday, notching a goal as youngsters continue to make an impression for San Jose. Meier, and the strong play of 21-year-old Kevin Lebanc (six points, 18 games), made veteran forward Joel Ward a healthy scratch Friday.

• Panarin has taken over the team lead with 32 points — one better than Kane — after recording four goals and five assists during a torrid four-game stretch for Chicago, which is in the middle of the pack in scoring overall. Captain Jonathan Toews has managed just one point in three games since returning from a back injury while fellow center Artem Anisimov (upper-body) is questionable after leaving Saturday’s game. Brent Seabrook notched an assist Saturday for his 17th of the season and 299th of his career while fellow defenseman Duncan Keith has 21 helpers and no goals.

• The Sharks are 2-0-1 in the last three meetings, including a 2-1 triumph in San Jose on Nov. 23 when Toews was injured.

• Chicago G Scott Darling is 5-2-1 with a .933 save percentage since replacing Corey Crawford (appendectomy).

• San Jose F Joe Thornton’s assist with the man advantage in Friday’s win pushed him past Pierre Turgeon for 16th on the NHL’s all-time list for power-play points with 488.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Chicago Blackhawks

Confidence: 4/10

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