Pregame Preview #43: Sharks Look To Continue Momentum Against Senators
The San Jose Sharks are looking to win their second straight game as they take on the Ottawa Senators this afternoon.
Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports - Pregame Preview #43: Sharks Look To Continue Momentum Against SenatorsThe San Jose Sharks (10-29-3) are looking to win their second straight game as they take on the Ottawa Senators (14-23-0) this afternoon.
Sharks head coach David Quinn confirmed San Jose will go with the same lineup as its last game against the Montreal Canadiens. Mackenzie Blackwood will get his second straight start.
"He's just playing really well. There's really not much more to it," Quinn said about Blackwood. "I had a talk with Kaapo yesterday; he'll play against Buffalo. I already told him that. I just think Blacky looks like he's in a little bit of a zone."
San Jose adjusted its forward lines in the last game. Quinn's setting up the lines allowed each center to have a fast winger.
"Speed kills. Even when you don't have the puck, the threat of the speed and particularly when you're slashing on your breakouts, it pushes people back and gives you room," Quinn explained. "A lot goes into playing fast. It's not just skating fast. It's thinking fast. It's beating people off walls, it's having a mental anticipation play in and play out so, but certainly, foot speed can put people back on their heels and create an awful lot of space for people."
On this goal, Filip Zadina's speed pushed the Montreal defense into their zone, allowing the Sharks to get on top of them on the forecheck. Because of that, Fabian Zetterlund can get into the low slot for the goal.
Sharks projected line combinations:
Zetterlund-Hertl-Zadina
Eklund-Granlund-Duclair
Barabanov-Kunin-Bailey
Hoffman-Carpenter-Labanc
Ferraro-Vlasic
Thrun-Rutta
Okhotiuk-Addison
Blackwood
Puck drop is at 1 p.m. PST and can be seen on NBC Sports California or the Sharks Audio Network.
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