San Jose Sharks players Fabian Zetterlund and Nikita Okhotiuk will face the New Jersey Devils for the first time.

The San Jose Sharks (5-16-2) take on the New Jersey Devils (11-9-1) for the first time since the big trade last season.

Fabian Zetterlund and Nikita Okhotiuk will face the Devils for the first time.

Timo Meier could return for tonight's game after dealing with a lower-body injury that has kept him out of the lineup since Nov. 14.

Sharks head coach David Quinn confirmed that Kaapo Kahkonen will start in goal. Mackenzie Blackwood played last night against the Boston Bruins. 

"They asked me about a month ago whether or not I wanted to play, and I said I don't care," Blackwood said. "I kind of forgot about it, then it just kind of snuck up on the schedule. It doesn't really matter to me that much. A game is a game, right? So I just treat it as another one on the schedule."

Zetterlund is facing the Devils for the first time in his career. 

"It's gonna be fun tonight. Jersey was the team I got drafted by," Zetterlund said. "I went on the highway [last night], and I was like, I just lived here last year. It was a bit weird. [I have] a lot of friends on the other side, but when the puck drops [there are] no friends, right?"

Quinn has spoken highly of Zetterlund's play this season.

"Zetterlund has had a really good year and is one of our better players throughout the course of the first 20-plus games," Quinn said.

Okhotiuk is just as excited as Zetterlund to face his former team.

"It's a really good feeling coming back to the airport in New Jersey," Okhotiuk said. "I'm happy to come back, and [I'm] looking forward to the game."

As for the game tonight, the Sharks will have to stop Jack and Luke Hughes.

Quinn said that the Sharks are dealing with "a bunch of questionable guys," so the lineup could look different tonight. He noted that Givani Smith is a game-time decision with a mid-body injury.

Here's what the lineup projection is based on last night's game against the Boston Bruins:

Eklund-Hertl-Hoffman
Zetterlund-Granlund-Duclair
MacDonald-Sturm-Kunin
Smith-Carpenter-Bailey

Ferraro-Emberson
Addison-Benning
Okhotiuk-Burroughs

Kahkonen
Blackwood

Puck drop is at 7 p.m. EST and can be seen on NBC Sports Califonia or the Sharks Audio Network.

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