Kraken Face Sharks Amid Playoff Push with Key Players Uncertain

San Jose, California — The Seattle Kraken will face off against the San Jose Sharks tonight at the SAP Center as both teams jockey for position ahead of the NHL playoffs. The puck is set to drop at 10 p.m. ET following the Kraken’s recent victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

Seattle is coming off a strong 5-0 win against the Vancouver Canucks, where netminder Joey Daccord played a pivotal role. With Philipp Grubauer expected to start against the Sharks, the Kraken hope to maintain momentum as they contend for playoff seeding. “We are focusing on finishing strong this season, every game matters,” Daccord said in a pre-game interview.

Tonight’s projected lineup sees Tye Kartye, Matty Beniers, and Kaapo Kakko leading the Kraken’s first line, while Chandler Stephenson, Jordan Eberle, and Jared McCann aim to provide depth scoring. However, both Eeli Tolvanen and Jaden Schwartz are game-time decisions after missing the last match due to undisclosed injuries, complicating Seattle’s offensive strategy.

Meanwhile, the Sharks also face injury challenges. A host of players, including Logan Couture (groin) and Jan Rutta (lower body), are currently sidelined, while others will return to the lineup. Goalie Alexandar Georgiev, who sat out the previous game, will start for San Jose after recovering from a minor ailment. “We just need to get back to our game and stay focused,” Georgiev stated earlier this week.

In their last matchup, Seattle edged out San Jose with a 4-2 victory, a game where Jordan Spence and Adrian Kempe found the back of the net for the Kings. The Kraken, who are currently 4-4-2 in their last 10 games, aim to capitalize on their recent success and build on it as they enter the final stretch of the season.

The Kings are also in the playoff hunt and are looking at potential scenarios to clinch the division title. Currently, they sit five points behind the Vegas Golden Knights with a game in hand, making the stakes high for Seattle and their Pacific Division rivals.

As the playoff picture becomes clearer, both teams will rely heavily on their depth and will need to adapt quickly to each other’s strategies tonight. “Every point counts as we move into the playoffs,” said Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol, emphasizing the importance of tonight’s game. Fans can catch all the action live, available on FanDuel Sports Network West and audio coverage via the ESPN LA app.