Preview/Lines #28: Kahkonen’s Got Hot Hand

Kaapo Kahkonen is on a hot streak.

Kahkonen has won five of last six decisions, to take the lead on the San Jose Sharks with five wins. Mackenzie Blackwood has three.

Kahkonen is 5-1-0 with a .917 Save % since Nov. 16, while Blackwood has gone 1-3-1 with an .891 Save %.

Since Nov. 16, Kahkonen and Blackwood have almost alternated starts, Kahkonen with five and Blackwood with six.

So is Kahkonen, on a four-game personal winning streak, on the way to becoming the San Jose Sharks starter?

“Both these guys have played really well. With these two guys, I don’t think too far ahead. It’s really game by game,” head coach David Quinn said yesterday. “It’s nice to have two guys that are playing as well as they are.”

Blackwood, of course, was considered by most to be the Sharks MVP through two months. He also won fan-voted Player of the Month honors in both October and November.

But pending UFA Kahkonen has had the hot hand lately and will draw the start tonight, as the Sharks hope to finish their 3-2-0 road trip – all Kahkonen wins – with a victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.

San Jose Sharks (8-17-2)

Kahkonen will start. Luke Kunin will not be an option tonight. Quinn says the rest of the line-up is undetermined because of injuries, so no guarantee that just-recalled Henry Thrun will be in the line-up.

Vegas Golden Knights (18-5-5)

Vegas Flu for the Sharks? Golden Knights vs San Jose Sharks Preview

Where To Watch

Puck drop between the San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights is 7 PM PT at T-Mobile Arena. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.