Sharks Look to Disrupt Maple Leafs’ Momentum Tonight
Alright, let’s break down what’s shaping up to be a surprisingly intriguing matchup between the San Jose Sharks and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Both teams come into this game with identical win totals on the season, but the vibes around each locker room couldn’t be more different. Toronto is riding a steady 6-2-2 stretch over their last ten games, while San Jose has been fighting to stay afloat after dropping four of their last six. Still, the Sharks have quietly pieced together a strong 12-8-1 run in their last 21 games, and they’re showing signs they might not be the easy matchup they once appeared to be.
One of the biggest reasons San Jose has become must-watch hockey is Macklin Celebrini. At just 19 years old, Celebrini has been everything the Sharks hoped for when he was drafted first overall in 2024. With 43 points in 31 games, he’s not just living up to expectations—he’s raising them. Tonight, he’ll be centering a top line with Collin Graf and Will Smith, a trio that has been driving much of San Jose’s recent offensive success. Behind them, Jeff Skinner returns to the lineup after being scratched in their last game, giving the Sharks another experienced scoring option as they try to keep pace with Toronto’s firepower.
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Defensively, San Jose will get Shakir Mukhamadullin back in the lineup after four games in the press box, replacing Nick Leddy. And in net, it’s expected that Alex Nedeljkovic will carry the load, though Yaroslav Askarov is available if needed.
On the Toronto side, things are a bit more complicated. The Maple Leafs are dealing with a pile of injuries, and even Auston Matthews is officially listed as out with a lower-body issue, though his name still appears in the projected lines. Assuming he plays, he enters this matchup historically dominant against San Jose—13 goals and 18 points in 15 games, scoring in nearly every meeting. Even in a slightly slower season for him, he’s heating up again with six points in his last six games.
The Leafs’ lineup has been shuffled heavily. Bobby McMann is suspended for one game, which opens a spot for Nicholas Robertson. Henry Thrun, acquired from San Jose back in July, is expected to make his season debut after being recalled from the AHL. Toronto’s defensive unit is thin due to multiple injuries, forcing them to rely on depth pieces to hold the blue line steady.
What makes this game so interesting is how unpredictable it feels. Toronto has the offensive talent and recent momentum, but San Jose’s history against them is surprisingly strong. The Sharks have either won outright or kept things within two goals in nine of their last thirteen matchups, and they’ve taken the last two meetings straight up.
So as puck drop approaches, it really feels like one of those nights where anything can happen. Toronto will try to push their hot streak further, San Jose will try to rediscover theirs, and both sides have just enough chaos in their lineups to make this a fun one.
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