Schedule / Matchup Preview

San Jose Sharks vs Washington Capitals · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current

Season 26-27
Matchup Preview vs Capitals · FRI · JAN 8 · 9:00 PM CT ← Back to schedule
Upcoming
FRI · JAN 8 · 9:00 PM CT
SAP Center at San Jose
NBCSCA · MNMT2
San Jose Sharks
Sharks
2–0–0
VS
Washington Capitals
Capitals
1–1–0
Upcoming
FRI · JAN 8 · 9:00 PM CT
NBCSCA · MNMT2
San Jose Sharks
Home · Sharks
2–0–0
4 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
The read
Tyler Toffoli has solved Logan Thompson before, 5 goals on 23 shots. But Washington has found Yaroslav Askarov beatable: .854 on 41 shots.
SAP Center at San Jose
Washington Capitals
Away · Capitals
1–1–0
2 PTS
Sharks
GOALIES
Capitals
Yaroslav Askarov
Yaroslav Askarov
Expected
.885 SV% · 3.32 GAA · 2W
.858 SV% L5 · Cooling
VS
Logan Thompson
Logan Thompson
Expected
.939 SV% · 2.00 GAA · 1W
.923 SV% L5 · Locked in
Sharks
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Capitals
L1
Mason Marchment · Macklin Celebrini · Will Smith
L1
Alex Tuch · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Tom Wilson
L2
Ivar Stenberg · Alexander Wennberg · Collin Graf
L2
Alex Ovechkin · Dylan Strome · Ryan Leonard
L3
Igor Chernyshov · Michael Misa · Tyler Toffoli
L3
Aliaksei Protas · Ilya Protas · Jordan Kyrou
L4
Barclay Goodrow · Zack Ostapchuk · Kiefer Sherwood
L4
Boone Jenner · Justin Sourdif · Anthony Beauvillier
D1
Darnell Nurse · Michael Kesselring
D1
Jakob Chychrun · Matt Roy
D2
Nolan Allan · Jacob Trouba
D2
Cole Hutson · Vincent Desharnais
D3
Dmitry Orlov · Luca Cagnoni
D3
Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
PP1
Igor Chernyshov · Alexander Wennberg · Will Smith · Macklin Celebrini · Luca Cagnoni
PP1
Tom Wilson · Dylan Strome · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Alex Ovechkin · Jakob Chychrun
PP2
Mason Marchment · Michael Misa · Tyler Toffoli · Dmitry Orlov · Ivar Stenberg
PP2
Alex Tuch · Ilya Protas · Ryan Leonard · Cole Hutson · Jordan Kyrou
PK1
Alexander Wennberg · Collin Graf · Darnell Nurse · Jacob Trouba
PK1
Aliaksei Protas · Tom Wilson · Vincent Desharnais · Matt Roy
PK2
Barclay Goodrow · Kiefer Sherwood · Nolan Allan · Dmitry Orlov
PK2
Boone Jenner · Alex Tuch · Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
SharksProjected lines
L1
Mason Marchment · Macklin Celebrini · Will Smith
L2
Ivar Stenberg · Alexander Wennberg · Collin Graf
L3
Igor Chernyshov · Michael Misa · Tyler Toffoli
L4
Barclay Goodrow · Zack Ostapchuk · Kiefer Sherwood
D1
Darnell Nurse · Michael Kesselring
D2
Nolan Allan · Jacob Trouba
D3
Dmitry Orlov · Luca Cagnoni
PP1
Igor Chernyshov · Alexander Wennberg · Will Smith · Macklin Celebrini · Luca Cagnoni
PP2
Mason Marchment · Michael Misa · Tyler Toffoli · Dmitry Orlov · Ivar Stenberg
PK1
Alexander Wennberg · Collin Graf · Darnell Nurse · Jacob Trouba
PK2
Barclay Goodrow · Kiefer Sherwood · Nolan Allan · Dmitry Orlov
CapitalsProjected lines
L1
Alex Tuch · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Tom Wilson
L2
Alex Ovechkin · Dylan Strome · Ryan Leonard
L3
Aliaksei Protas · Ilya Protas · Jordan Kyrou
L4
Boone Jenner · Justin Sourdif · Anthony Beauvillier
D1
Jakob Chychrun · Matt Roy
D2
Cole Hutson · Vincent Desharnais
D3
Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
PP1
Tom Wilson · Dylan Strome · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Alex Ovechkin · Jakob Chychrun
PP2
Alex Tuch · Ilya Protas · Ryan Leonard · Cole Hutson · Jordan Kyrou
PK1
Aliaksei Protas · Tom Wilson · Vincent Desharnais · Matt Roy
PK2
Boone Jenner · Alex Tuch · Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
Max Miller · Oct 3 · 8:38 PM CT Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:10 AM CT
Sharks
INJURY REPORT
Capitals
Adam Gaudette
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 10
Matt Roy
DAY-TO-DAY · Lower body
Alex Barre-Boulet
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 5
Patrick Thomas
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 24
Quentin Musty
IR · Upper body · Expected back Dec 1
Rasmus Sandin
IR · Right knee (surgery) · Expected back Dec 26
Cam Lund
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 19
Kyle Keyser
IR · Upper body · Expected back Dec 1
Patrick Giles
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 8
SharksInjury report
Adam Gaudette
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 10
Alex Barre-Boulet
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 5
Quentin Musty
IR · Upper body · Expected back Dec 1
Cam Lund
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 19
Kyle Keyser
IR · Upper body · Expected back Dec 1
Patrick Giles
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 8
CapitalsInjury report
Matt Roy
DAY-TO-DAY · Lower body
Patrick Thomas
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 24
Rasmus Sandin
IR · Right knee (surgery) · Expected back Dec 26
Max Miller · Oct 3 · 8:38 PM CT Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:10 AM CT
STORYLINE
The Sharks have won 2 straight and are 2-0-0 in their first 2 games. The Capitals lost their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games.

Matchup Intel

Tyler Toffoli has solved Logan Thompson before, 5 goals on 23 shots. But Washington has found Yaroslav Askarov beatable: .854 on 41 shots.

The special-teams edge is the Sharks': a 3rd-ranked power play against a penalty kill ranked 29th. The problem is Ryan Leonard, who has 5 points in his last 4 against the Sharks.

The numbers behind it
Matchup
Tyler Toffoli has 5 goals on Logan Thompson (23 shots).
(San Jose)
5 goals on Logan Thompson
Special Teams
San Jose's power play ranks 3rd while Washington's penalty kill ranks 29th.
3rd / 29th PP vs PK
Goaltending
Yaroslav Askarov has struggled against Washington — a .854 save % on 41 shots.
.854 SV% vs WSH
Matchup
Dmitry Orlov has 16 shots on Logan Thompson without a goal.
(San Jose)
0/16 vs Logan Thompson
Player
Ryan Leonard has 5 points in his last 4 games against San Jose. See the games →
(Washington)
5 pts, last 4 vs SJS
Player
Alex Ovechkin has 5 points in his last 4 games against San Jose. See the games →
(Washington)
5 pts, last 4 vs SJS