Preview/Lines #78: Boughner Still Setting Standard High for Hertl, Meier

The San Jose Sharks have just five games left, but Bob Boughner is still setting a standard for stars Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier.

“I had [Timo] and Tommy in my office, we went through shift tape, they both admitted that their last couple games haven’t been good enough,” Boughner shared after the Sharks’ 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues. “I think some of it is they’re waiting around for that bounce. Instead of going out there and do the things that are going to create that bounce. Play in the right way. It was just a matter-of-fact meeting.”

Between Hertl and Meier, they’ve combined for just one goal and one assist in the last four games. That’s coincided – or not – with the absence of regular linemate Alexander Barabanov, who been out since Apr. 14 with an upper-body injury.

“I know Barbie hasn’t been on their line for a couple games, but that’s no excuse,” Boughner said. “Those guys should be able to carry a line and they know that. So they understood it and they agreed.”

Barabanov is expected to return this evening against the Blackhawks, so we’ll see if he can spark Timo and Tommy.

San Jose Sharks (30-35-12)

These were how the San Jose Sharks lined up yesterday at practice:

#SJSharks  lines this morning:

Hertl w/Meier, Barabanov
Couture w/Nieto, Bonino
Bordeleau w/Balcers, Gregor
Weatherby w/Reedy, Chmelevski
Gadjovich, Dahlen, Viel (extras)

Simek also participating (as a defenseman)

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 22, 2022

Bob Boughner will speak with the media about two hours before the game to confirm the line-up.

Chicago Blackhawks (26-41-11)

This was how the Hawks lined up in their last game on Thursday:

Blackhawks lines in warmups vs. Kings:

DeBrincat-Strome-Kane
Kubalik-Toews-TJohnson
Kurashev-Lafferty-Raddysh
Katchouk-RJohnson-Borgstrom

Vlasic-SJones
McCabe-Regula
Stillman-de Haan

Delia

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) April 22, 2022

Where To Watch

Puck drop between the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks is at 5 PM PT/8 PM ET at the SAP Center. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.

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