The San Jose Sharks complete a six-game homestand against the New York Islanders on Saturday and are making some lineup adjustments.
Ryan Reaves will rejoin the Sharks’ lineup after being a healthy scratch for the past four games. Philipp Kurashev will sit as a healthy scratch, which comes as a bit of a surprise. Yaroslav Askarov will start in goal, Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky confirmed.
“He’s been good, but obviously we have some healthy guys, fresh up front. [With the] back to back, we want to get some fresh legs,” Warsofsky said.
Kurashev has three assists in the past four games, including on Kiefer Sherwood’s game-winning goal against the Montreal Canadiens and Sherwood’s game-tying goal against the St. Louis Blues.
Adam Gaudette will move up to Kurashev’s spot with Alexander Wennberg and Sherwood on the San Jose Sharks’ third line.
Nolan Allan was recalled from the San Jose Barracuda on Saturday and could make his Sharks debut, per Warsofsky. Allan registered two assists in the ‘Cuda’s 4-1 win on Friday.
Warsofsky wouldn’t reveal who, but the Sharks’ blue line is a little “nicked up,” and there are game-time decisions. The San Jose Sharks coach also said he is still waiting for confirmation from Mike Grier on whether Allan will travel with the team on its upcoming five-game road trip.
“That’s what we decided to go with. Talking to Mike, he’s been playing pretty well down there,” Warsofsky said of Allan.
As far as other changes, Macklin Celebrini will go back to the center after playing the wing in the third period on Friday. Saturday’s lines should resemble what the team began with on Friday.