Red Wings Face Sharks as Kane Awaits Return

San Jose, California — The Detroit Red Wings (8-4) take on the San Jose Sharks (4-6-2) tonight at SAP Center as part of their five-game road trip. The game starts at 8 p.m. ET, with coverage on FanDuel Sports Network.

Detroit, currently 2-1 on this trip, will compete without forward Patrick Kane, who has missed the last seven games due to an upper-body injury. Coach Todd McLellan has indicated that Kane is skating but will not rejoin the team for this road trip.

The Red Wings have not yet announced their starting goaltender for the game, but Cam Talbot is expected to take the ice following a subpar performance from John Gibson in recent games.

On the offensive side, Alex DeBrincat continues to shine, scoring a goal in each of his last four games. Meanwhile, Marco Kasper is facing pressure to return to last season’s form after a slow start. Emmitt Finnie‘s hot start has cooled, putting more focus on Kasper’s performance tonight.

The Sharks, despite their struggles this season, are coming off three wins in their last four games. Rookie Macklin Celebrini is becoming a standout player with 18 points in 12 games. San Jose’s penalty-killing unit has struggled, ranking 30th in the NHL, making them vulnerable to Detroit’s power play.

In the previous matchup against the Anaheim Ducks, the Red Wings faced a challenging game but are looking to capitalize on the Sharks’ defensive weaknesses. The Sharks’ goaltending has also been an issue, with former Red Wing Alex Nedeljkovic expected to start tonight.

As puck drop approaches, both teams are eager for a win. The Kings are trying to extend their seven-game point streak at home against the Red Wings, where they are 8-1-1 in their last 10 meetings.