Sharks at Panthers

SAN JOSE SHARKS (22-19-2) at PANTHERS (30-9-5)

Sharks projected lineup
Alexander Barabanov -- Tomas Hertl --
Rudolfs Balcers
Jonathan Dahlen -- Logan Couture -- Timo Meier
Matt Nieto -- Nick Bonino -- Noah Gregor
Andrew Cogliano -- Jasper Weatherby -- Jeffrey Viel
Mario Ferraro -- Brent Burns
Jaycob Megna -- Nicolas Meloche
Marc-Edouard Vlasic -- Radim Simek
James Reimer
Zach Sawchenko
Scratched: Lane Pederson, Ryan Merkley, Adam Raska, Jonah Gadjovich
Injured: Erik Karlsson (upper body), Jake Middleton (upper body), Kevin Labanc (upper body), Adin Hill (lower body)
Panthers projected lineup
Carter Verhaeghe -- Aleksander Barkov -- Owen Tippett
Jonathan Huberdeau -- Sam Bennett -- Anthony Duclair
Mason Marchment -- Anton Lundell -- Sam Reinhart
Eetu Luostarinen -- Joe Thornton -- Ryan Lomberg
MacKenzie Weegar -- Aaron Ekblad
Gustav Forsling -- Radko Gudas
Lucas Carlsson -- Brandon Montour
Sergei Bobrovsky
Jonas Johansson
Scratched:Frank Vatrano
Injured:Patric Hornqvist (upper body), Olli Juolevi (undisclosed), Maxim Mamin (undisclosed)
Status report
Thornton enters the lineup for Vatrano. It will be his first game against the Sharks since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 16, 2020 after spending 15 seasons in San Jose. ... Balcers is expected to play after coming out of NHL COVID-19 protocol. … Sharks coach Bob Boughner said after practice Friday that Hill was getting better, and the goalie could star against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. … Florida loaned forward Aleksi Heponiemi, defenseman
Matt Kiersted
and goalie Spencer Knight to Charlotte of the American Hockey League. … The Panthers sent defenseman Chase Priskie to the taxi squad.