Sharks center Alexander Wennberg is sidelined with an upper-body injury, marking his first missed game of the season after tallying 43 points in 64 contests. With Igor Chernyshov also out, Philipp Kurashev and Pavol Regenda will fill the third line as the Sharks aim to secure a Wild Card spot. Additionally, goaltender Laurent Brossoit makes his Sharks debut after two years in the AHL, while David Kampf of the Capitals delays his debut due to family and visa issues.
