PITTSBURGH — Yaroslav Askarov is set to return to the goal for the San Jose Sharks as they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins this afternoon. After dealing with an illness for the past week, Askarov will conclude the Sharks’ five-game road trip, having initially started it against the Dallas Stars. During his absence, Alex Nedeljkovic stepped in admirably, winning two of his three games and making 82 saves on 88 shots.
Shakir Mukhamadullin, who was scratched for four consecutive games, has sustained an upper-body injury during a match against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, leaving his status listed as day-to-day. Head coach Ryan Warsofsky indicated there is hope for a quick return. “He’s probably frustrated. But again, we think this is very short-term,” Warsofsky noted, expressing confidence that Mukhamadullin will be ready to play next week.
In reaction to Mukhamadullin’s injury, Nick Leddy and Vincent Iorio have been called up to fill in for him and Timothy Liljegren, who is currently a healthy scratch. Warsofsky has expressed a need for Liljegren to find his form again, emphasizing the importance of his role in consistently shutting down opposing top lines. “We gotta get him back, being that guy that can shut down top lines,” he explained.
Ryan Reaves is back in the lineup after being a game-time decision due to an upper-body injury, while Ty Dellandrea remains a game-time decision with a lower-body issue.
The Sharks come into this match with a record of 15-14-3, while the Penguins are standing at 14-8-7. Notable news for the Penguins includes their recent acquisition of Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for goaltender Tristan Jarry.
Viewers can catch the action as the puck drops at 12 PM PT at PPG Paints Arena, with coverage available live on NBC Sports California and via the Sharks Audio Network. This showdown presents an exciting opportunity for both teams to strengthen their standings as the season unfolds.