Sharks Vs Blue Jackets: Projected Lineups and the Strain of Late-Game Injuries

Askarov practiced Friday after leaving the Sharks’ 2-1 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, an early sign that the night ahead will be defined as much by who can take the ice as by the scoresheet — Sharks Vs Blue Jackets is set with lineups and absences that could reshape matchups.

Sharks Vs Blue Jackets projected lineups — who will skate where?

Coaching sheets and projections list full forward groupings for both clubs. The names below reflect the planned deployments for the evening.

• San Jose Sharks: Igor Chernyshov — Macklin Celebrini — Will Smith; William Eklund — Alexander Wennberg — Collin Graf; Pavol Regenda — Michael Misa — Kiefer Sherwood; Barclay Goodrow — Zack Ostapchuk — Adam Gaudette. Injured: Tyler Toffoli (lower body), Ryan Reaves (upper body), Ty Dellandrea (lower body).
• Columbus Blue Jackets: Mason Marchment — Adam Fantilli — Kirill Marchenko; Danton Heinen — Sean Monahan — Conor Garland; Cole Sillinger — Charlie Coyle — Mathieu Olivier; Isac Lundestrom — Boone Jenner — Miles Wood. Scratched: Kent Johnston, Dimitri Voronkov, Jake Christiansen.

Which injuries and scratches will change the ice?

San Jose arrives with several named injuries on its roster: Tyler Toffoli (lower body), Ryan Reaves (upper body) and Ty Dellandrea (lower body) are listed as injured. Between those absences and a recent midgame departure, the Sharks’ availability picture is fluid: Askarov practiced Friday after sustaining an undisclosed injury during the Sharks’ 2-1 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday. Askarov left the game at 9: 06 of the second period after Blues forward Nathan Walker was shoved into the net by Desharnais.

On Columbus’ side, defensive availability is in doubt after a recent contact that removed a veteran blueliner from the prior night’s game: Severson left a 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday with 8: 21 remaining in the third period after a check by Montreal forward Zachary Bolduc. “Severson is going to be out week to week, ” Columbus coach Rick Bowness said. In addition to that absence, Columbus will begin the night with three scratched players: Kent Johnston, Dimitri Voronkov and Jake Christiansen.

How are coaches and players responding?

With named injuries and scratches shaping the rosters, coaching staffs must balance projected lines against sudden availability changes. The Sharks’ decision to put specific forward groupings on the sheet reflects roster adjustments in the wake of multiple injured players. Columbus’ published lines pair veteran forwards with younger names and include defensive adjustments necessitated by an expected multigame absence for a key defenseman.

Columbus coach Rick Bowness’ assessment — “Severson is going to be out week to week” — sets a clear expectation about roster planning and short-term strategy. For the Sharks, the fact that Askarov was able to practice Friday provides at least a procedural update on a player who exited his previous game under contact; the circumstances that led to that exit — a shove into the net late in the second period — remain part of the immediate context for lineup decisions.

Across both benches, the human dimension is evident in the lists of names: injured players whose availability is limited, scratched skaters who will watch from the press box, and those who will be asked to absorb extra minutes or new roles. Coaches will send out the projected groups above, but the game night will ultimately reflect who is fit to play and how quickly teams can adapt.

Back on the ice where the Sharks practiced Friday and the Blue Jackets set their scratches, the pairings and absences listed for Sharks Vs Blue Jackets frame a matchup that will be decided as much by endurance and depth as by set plays — an unfolding test for both rosters and the coaches who must make the calls.