NBCSN’s coverage of the 2018-19 NHL season continues with Monday’s matchup between the Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks. Coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET on NBCSN. You can watch the game online and on the NBC Sports app by clicking here.
The battle of two of the NHL’s hottest clubs will take center stage in California on Monday night.
The Boston Bruins, winners of five straight (and points in 10 straight at 7-0-3) will look to make it a season-high six against a San Jose Sharks team that’s won seven of their past eight contests (7-1-0).
A large part of the Bruins’ current run has been the play of Brad Marchand, who 13 points n his past seven games, including four goals in his past five. Marchand got off to a “slow” start with 24 points in his first 28 games of the 2018-19 season. In the 30 he’s played since he’s amassed 16 goals and 46 points to sit with 70 with a lot of hockey still to be played.
The impressive bit in Boston’s streak is they’ve been doing it without David Pastrnak, who’s out after having surgery on his left thumb. Even without his team-leading 31 goals, the Bruins have scored 13 times in their past three games.
Suppressing scoring is what the Sharks have done over their past six wins, allowing exactly two goals in each of those games. They’ve been buoyed by at least five goals in three of their past five games.
The Bruins will have to contend with defenseman Erik Karlsson, who return to the lineup Saturday after missing nine games with a groin injury. Karlsson has been on fire with 28 points in his past 19 games.
Up front, Joe Pavelski continues to scores with five goals in his past eight games and 31 on the season.
[WATCH LIVE – COVERAGE BEGINS AT 10 P.M. ET – NBCSN]
What: Boston Bruins at San Jose Sharks
Where: SAP Center
When: Monday, Feb. 18, 10 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN
Live stream: You can watch the Bruins-Sharks stream on NBC Sports’ live stream page and the NBC Sports app.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
BRUINS
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Danton Heinen
Karson Kuhlman - David Krejci - Jake DeBrusk
Joakim Nordstrom - Trent Frederic - David Backe
Sean Kuraly - Noel Acciari - Chris Wagner
Zdeno Chara - Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug - Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk - Kevan Miller
Starting goalie: Tuukka Rask
SHARKS
Timo Meier - Logan Couture - Joe Pavelski
Evander Kane - Tomas Hertl - Joonas Donskoi
Marcus Sorensen - Joe Thornton - Kevin Labanc
Lukas Radil - Barclay Goodrow - Melker Karlsson
Radim Simek - Brent Burns
Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Erik Karlsson
Brenden Dillon - Justin Braun
Starting goalie: Martin Jones
Randy Hahn (play-by-play) and Bret Hedican (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will have the call from SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.