Preview/Lines #35: MacDonald Can’t Catch a Break, Chrona Recalled, Couture Update

LOS ANGELES – Jacob MacDonald can’t catch a break.

With 6:44 left during Saturday’s game, MacDonald scored to cut the Vancouver Canucks’ lead to 5-4. It was his sixth of the season, in just 17 appearances, and averaging just 11:54 a night.

Underscoring how productive that the forward-defenseman has been in limited time this season, he leads all blueliners with 1.78 Goals Per 60, according to Natural Stat Trick. Thomas Harley, by the way, trails at exactly 1.0 Goals Per Game.

I know MacDonald has also played up front, which has skewed his production, but at least four of his goals, including the Saturday night strike and his three power play markers, have been from the blueline.

So naturally, the way that MacDonald and the San Jose Sharks’ seasons have gone – they lead the NHL in man games lost – on MacDonald’s next shift, the 30-year-old defender lasted just 10 seconds, skating to the bench as Vancouver was entering the zone. Henry Thrun jumped on to replace him.

There was no clear injury.

According to head coach David Quinn, MacDonald is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. He was placed on IR for the second time this season.

San Jose Sharks (9-22-3)

It was an interesting first morning skate out of the holiday break.

Goaltending coach Thomas Speer suited up at goal, in place of Mackenzie Blackwood. Blackwood traveled, but according to Quinn, he’ll ill. In his place, the Sharks recalled Magnus Chrona from the San Jose Barracuda to back up starter Kaapo Kahkonen.

That’s good news, because the 37-year-old Speer said the last time that he played seriously was about a decade ago. That was in the ECHL.

Thomas Speer, not Mackenzie Blackwood pic.twitter.com/zRzQEn3tUN

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 27, 2023

Calen Addison and Alexander Barabanov participated in the full morning skate, and both were also in power play drills, so I expect both to make their return tonight.

Addison left the Dec. 17 tilt at Colorado with a lower-body injury, while Barabanov has been ill.

These are the 5-on-5 lines that I saw, with Addison sliding in for, I guess, Nikita Okhotiuk. Okhotiuk was among the last off the ice this morning. But that’s just a guess.

#SJSharks at practice, looks like Barabanov is back:

Eklund-Hertl-Zadina
Duclair-Granlund-Zetterlund
Hoffman-Kunin-Barabanov
Labanc-Studnicka-Bailey

Ferraro-Burroughs
Okhotiuk-Rutta
Vlasic-Thrun

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 27, 2023

As for the other injured Sharks, Quinn said of Logan Couture, who did not travel: “Continuing to make forward progress. No setbacks, which is good.”

He had no additional updates on Ty Emberson and Nico Sturm. Ryan Carpenter and Matt Benning are also on IR.

Los Angeles Kings (19-7-4)

Projected Lineups: LA Kings vs. San Jose Sharks; Will There be a Post-Game Dance Party?

🔗 https://t.co/7sCmGaWoAr pic.twitter.com/62irlY0GLq

— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) December 27, 2023

Where to Watch

Puck drop between the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings
is 7 PM PT at Crypto.com Arena. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.