GDT #9: Blues @ Sharks | 9:30 pm CT | BSMW, 101 ESPN

[theohall]

The San Jose Sharks will test their organizational depth again when they host the St. Louis Blues on Thursday with a diminished roster.

The Sharks defeated the Buffalo Sabres 5-3 Tuesday for their sixth victory in nine games. They won despite missing head coach Bob Boughner along with forwards Timo Meier, Kevin Labanc and Matt Nieto and defensemen Erik Karlsson, Radim Simek, Jacob Middleton and Marc-Edouard Vlasic due to COVID-19 protocols.

One of the Sharks' fill-ins, defenseman Santeri Hatakka, exited the Buffalo game with an upper-body injury to further deplete the lineup.

The Sharks canceled their Wednesday practice while trying to stem the COVID-19 outbreak.

"We're trying to take as many precautions as we can," said assistant coach John MacLean, who filled in for Boughner. "We're wearing masks, we're doing everything we can."

The Sharks got help from their AHL call-ups while winning their past two games.

"Sometimes when you're short-handed, different players out of the lineup ... when you keep this game simple, that's really what they've been trying to do," MacLean said. "The credit goes to the players. They really rallied behind this here. You know, next-man-up mentality."

San Jose rookie Ryan Merkley scored a goal in just his second NHL game on Tuesday.

"He's played excellent," Sharks captain Logan Couture said of the 21-year-old defenseman. "He practices hard. He's learning to be a pro."

Tomas Hertl scored two goals and added an assist against the Sabres after producing just four points in his first eight games this season.

"I'm just happy I scored," Hertl said. "It was nice to get my line going. I'm happy for every single goal."

The Blues come into the game at San Jose on the heels of a 3-2 shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night. St. Louis has earned points in seven of eight games this season.

Winger Brandon Saad was back from COVID-19 protocol to open the Blues' four-game road trip, but center Ryan O'Reilly, winger Kyle Clifford and backup goaltender Ville Husso remained shelved.

"It's definitely weird," Saad said. "I haven't missed a lot of time, so going through it is different for me -- I think more mentally than anything. You want to be out there, you want to be helping the team win. It's always tough, just to be watching, kind of sitting around waiting."

Saad needed a few days to get his legs back after rejoining the team.

"It's a new experience for me, so just getting practices in, some workouts, seeing where your fitness level's at," Saad said. "Obviously you want to help the team win, so it's something you just take day-by-day."

Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko brings a seven-game point streak (four goals, seven assists) into the Thursday game after notching two assists at Los Angeles. Goaltender Jordan Binnington (5-1-1, 2.42 goals-against average) faced the Kings, so coach Craig Berube may give rookie Joel Hofer his first NHL start.

James Reimer (3-1-0, 1.54 GAA) won the last two games in goal for the Sharks, so he may get the call again over Adin Hill (3-2, 2.95 GAA).

[glen a richter]

I’m cool with Hofer getting a look against a depleted team. Hopefully they don’t shit the bed.

Blues 2 Neal, Parayko
Sharks 1

[theohall]

Gotta be better on defensive zone faceoffs. Especially if more than half of them are taking place in the d-zone, like happened vs the Kings.

[theohall]

PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
Saad - Schenn - Perron
Kyrou - Thomas - Tarasenko
Kostin - Barbashev - Buchnevich
Neighbours - Bozak - Neal

Defense
Scandella - Parayko
Krug - Faulk
Walman - Mikkola

Goalie
Hofer

[gaijin]

Well, questionable penalties again a major factor in this game. Burns is a tool.

[theohall]

Good 2nd period response, but Kostin needs to pull his head out of his butt. Right now, he's the guy sent down when Sundqvist returns.

[theohall]

These games without ROR make it pretty doggone clear to me he's the team MVP. Why? Without him, the Blues haven't been strong in d-zone faceoffs. Their d-zone clears seem to take forever. And, finally, the next-man-up has eliminated the Blues shift after shift after shift offensive zone pressure. The next man just isn't as good. Hopefully, Schenn's injury isn't too serious, because that will also impact that line rollover which was so effective prior to ROR being out.

Krug is finally playing like the defenseman we saw in Boston, which is a darn good thing.
Parayko is back.
Tarasenko is playing like he did before he was injured - which might get him traded, but with the player chemistry, that could be delayed until the off-season.
Binnington looks great - as long as he isn't in a shootout.

That's about all for now.

[glen a richter]

And Joel HOFer seamlessly squeezed in when necessary. This team is deep everywhere, obviously some guys are missed more than others like O’Reilly, but there’s plenty of guys to fill in admirably if necessary. I think the depth on this years team could easily be the most they’ve ever had…. At least in my memory and I’ve been a fan since the 92-93 season.

[theohall]

When the forwards are healthy, I've never seen a team this deep able to roll line after line after line and control play so effectively while also generating offense - not just grinding in the corners. And that goes back to 1976 when I remember watching hockey as a kid. There was a Brian Sutter team who rolled lines, but 2 of the 4 lines would just grind in the corners and play keep away. One of the really good Coach Q teams was the same way. This team is unique in what they can do - when all the forwards are healthy and this has been without Sundqvist. Really interested in seeing how good a 4th line can be with him on it - whether he or Bozak are at center.