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SHARKS (17-11-5) at BLACKHAWKS (10-18-6)
7 p.m. ET; WGN, NBCSCA, NHL.TV

San Jose is 5-1-0 in its past six games and has allowed two goals or fewer in four of those games.
Chicago is 1-8-1 in its past 10 games but has points in two straight (1-0-1). It's the first time they've had points in consecutive games since a four-game streak (2-0-2) from Nov. 12-18.

Players to watch

Sharks forward Timo Meier has six points (four goals, two assists) in a three-game multipoint steak and 10 points (five goals, five assists) in his past six games.
Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews has six points (three goals, three assists) in his past two games, and has three points in each of them.

They said it

"It's getting better and better as we anticipated. I think that as a team we're starting to grow into what we need to be, and we still got a long way to go and we got to keep doing that. And that's not just me. I think that's everybody, whether you've been here for 15 years or two, or like me you're new. Every year's different, and I think we're starting to find our groove here a little bit hopefully, and we just need to keep building on that." -- Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson
"Our team game is getting better across the board, that's No. 1. [If] we keep having more consistent, more well-rounded efforts every night, over time we're going to get the results that we want. We know we have the ability to do it in here, so that's what it comes down to." -- Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews

Sharks projected lineup
Blackhawks projected lineup
Status report

The Sharks did not hold a morning skate. … Anisimov took part in the morning skate but will his fourth straight game. Coach Jeremy Colliton said there was no update on his condition.

Stat pack

Couture has seven points (two goals, five assists) in his past six games. ... Thornton needs two assists to tie Marcel Dionne (1,040) for 10th place all-time in the NHL all-time list. ... Keith has four assists during a three-game point streak. … Patrick Kane has seven points (two goals, five assists) in his past six games.