Preseason Preview/Lines #6: Sturm Out, Harrington’s Big Berlin Opportunity

BERLIN – From PTO to playing with Erik Karlsson, it’s been wild ride for Scott Harrington.

And it continues tonight, where the stay-at-home Harrington will skate once again with the offensively-minded Karlsson.

“I try to keep things pretty simple, move the puck well. I like being someone that’s reliable,” the 29-year-old veteran said about why he thinks that he fits with Karlsson. “Not just for whoever I’m playing with, but the other four guys on the ice. Get the puck out of the zone as quick as I can and be hard to play against.”

San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn has said that tonight’s line-up in the team’s pre-season finale should look close to the opening night line-up against the Nashville Predators on Friday in Prague. So Harrington’s time at the top of the depth chart should last a bit longer.

San Jose Sharks (4-1-0)

Quinn, up to this point, doesn’t show his lines during morning skate. But we did confirm that Augsburg native Nico Sturm is out (should be ready for the Prague games) tonight, and rookies Thomas Bordeleau and William Eklund won’t be playing.

So here’s my guess at tonight’s lines, based on yesterday’s practice:

Meier-Hertl-Kunin
Lindblom-Couture-Labanc
Gregor-Bonino-Nieto
Gadjovich-Lorentz- Svechnikov

Harrington-Karlsson
Vlasic-Ferraro
Simek-Benning

Reimer
Kahkonen

Quinn said yesterday that Reimer will start, and Kahkonen will relieve him halfway.

I do think Sturm, if he’s healthy, should break into the line-up versus the Preds, so that could be the one change when the games count.

Eisbären Berlin

Here are some things that stand out about the Eisbaren line-up: Yup, that’s the same Manny Wiederer who was in the San Jose Sharks organization from 2017 to 2020. It’s also the same Zach Boychuk who’s probably followed you on Twitter.

And Frank and Eric Hördler are living out a dream together: They’re that rare father (Frank) and son (Eric) duo in pro hockey.

It’s the first season that Frank Hördler, 37, and Eric Hördler, 18, have played together.

However, per Randy Hahn, who spoke with Eisbaren head coach Serge Aubin, Frank Hödler won’t play tonight because of injury. Also former NHL’ers Peter Regin and Brendan Guhle, along with veterans Matt White and Leonhard Pfoderi, won’t play either because of injury. So Eisbaren will run a pretty young line-up.

Where to Watch

The San Jose Sharks will take on Eisbaren Berlin at Mercedes-Benz Arena tonight at 8 PM CET and 11 AM PST. Watch it live on NBC Sports California and NHL Network. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.