SAN JOSE – Yaroslav Askarov will get the start in net on Wednesday when the San Jose Sharks host the Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks in an important game for both teams.

The raw numbers suggest the Sharks might be better off starting Alex Nedeljkovic on Wednesday instead, and going with Askarov on Thursday when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Askarov started on Monday and made 22 saves, including 12 in the third period, in the Sharks’ 5-4 win over the St. Louis Blues. In 42 games this season, Askarov, in his first full NHL season, is 20-17-3 with an .886 save percentage.

Askarov’s numbers, though, have been slightly better when he has two days of rest between games rather than one. In 11 such games this season, Askarov is 6-5-0 with a .894 save percentage.

Nedeljkovic, on the other hand, has been solid when he’s had three days between games, posting a .923 save percentage in seven such circumstances this season.

That would have been the case for Wednesday’s game, as Nedeljkovic last started on Saturday and made 22 saves in the Sharks’ 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Nedeljkovic was working on one day off between games that day.

There are other factors at play, of course, including the quality of the opponent and how well the skaters in front of Askarov and Nedeljkovic, who signed a two-year extension with the Sharks last month, are performing and defending.

But Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said the organization wants to keep challenging Askarov, who turns 24 in June and has only played four-plus periods since he sustained a lower-body injury before the Sharks’ game against the Boston Bruins on March 10.

“We’ve got to get (Askarov) back in there,” Warsofsky said, adding that the days between games stat is “something we’ve talked about. But we’re also trying to develop a number one goalie, let’s be honest. So, we’ve got to get him playing.

“He needs to play in these situations. It’s a big game, playoff-like game, and let’s see how he can handle it.”

If that’s the Sharks’ approach going forward, Askarov figures to get the majority of the games until the end of the regular season. Still, after Wednesday, the Sharks play nine games in 15 days, so both Askarov and Nedeljkovic will get starts.

Warsofsky said in Monday’s game, Askarov “made some saves at some important times. … I’m sure there’s some he probably wants back. The last one (a third-period power-play goal by Cam Fowler), he does get a little screen there. So it’s a tough one. You’ve got to battle through that screen. But just like any young player, he’s developing.”

Nedeljkovic is slated to start Thursday against the Leafs. He is 14-13-4 this season with an .893 save percentage. In 15 games this season in which he’s had four or more days rest, Nedeljkovic has a record of 6-6-1 and a .892 save percentage.

The Sharks, looking for their third straight win, entered Wednesday in 11th place in the Western Conference with 75 points, two points back of the Nashville Predators for the second and final wild card spot.

The Ducks (41-28-5) lead the Pacific Division with 87 points, two more than the Edmonton Oilers. They will be without forward Cutter Gauthier, who had to leave Monday’s game against the Maple Leafs with a lower-body injury. Gauthier, who leads Anaheim with 38 goals and 65 points in 73 games, is not expected to have to miss much more time. The Sharks play in Anaheim on April 9.