The Sharks and Jets are the only NHL game on tap tonight and – inconveniently – start at the same time as the WJHC Gold Medal game.

Winnipeg has been a terror on the road this year (11-4-4) but have been pleasantly human at home (9-8-3) – something that is a good news for a Sharks team that will be without Joe Thornton yet again.

It’s no secret that the Sharks first game without Thornton in nearly five years was a disaster in every aspect. Aside from losing their most consistent possession player, the Sharks looked generally confused as to what they were supposed to do without their leader.

Now that they've had a few practices and a forgettable game to get used to life without Joe they should be better prepared for tonight’s game against the Winnipeg Jets. I don’t expect the game to be as out of hand as it was against St Louis because of the previously stated reasons – and also because the Jets aren't the Blues – but I also don’t expect this to be a typical Sharks game.

They will still struggle and it’s going to be a battle. The Jets are coming off a game in which they laid an absolute beat-down on the Toronto Maple Leafs and will be hungry to carry that momentum into the game against San Jose.

It’s an important game for both teams, with the Jets looking to build some separation and the Sharks looking to keep the standings close, so to come out with flat feet will be a recipe for disaster.

Keys to the Game

Forget About Joe

He’s not playing, and now that he’s on IR he shouldn't be playing in tomorrow’s tilt either against the Minnesota Wild. The Sharks have to figure out how to play hockey without him, whether they like it or not, because they are in the thick of a playoff race where you can’t afford to go on losing streaks.

There is no safe haven in holding the 8th playoff spot.

San Jose needs to focus on the task at hand and simplify their game. Without Thornton things have to go back to more fundamental hockey – because there are no picture perfect meals being served up by Chef Thornton’s stick.

Line Combinations

When Todd McLellan panics it’s painfully apparent through his line shuffling. McLellan goes into full bingo-ball mode with the lines when he feels like his back is against the wall and it never turns out well for the Sharks.

Look at these line combinations from yesterday’s skate:

#SJSharks going with some interesting line combos today: 68-39-8, 89-12-57, 48-15-83 and 20-10-81

— Paul Gackle (@GackleReport) January 4, 2015

Freddie Hamilton was recalled with Haley being sent down. McLellan has said that Kennedy isn’t ready to go so Hamilton should be probable on the fourth line, but that’s all beside the point.

Those line combinations are, well, interesting to say the least as Paul Gackle tweeted out. If you want to see a Sharks team that has zero chemistry with each other I think that’s your layout. Melker Karlsson – and I’m a big Melker fan – does not belong on the top line, nor does Barclay Goodrow belong on the second.

A few good games by Goodrow (all since Karlsson was called up) and it seems everyone is forgetting how bad he played previous to that all season long. I’m not against Goodrow in the lineup – because with injuries there aren't many options – but this is an AHL hockey player who could develop into a depth guy at the NHL. That’s the reality of Barclay Goodrow. He’s been thrown into the ring too fast.

McLellan needs to keep his lines simple. Hertl/Pavelski/Nieto, second line remains the same with 12/39/57, third line remains as well with 89/15/68 and the fourth line should be McGinn/Desjardins/Hamilton. Without Thornton and with other injuries, that’s a simple set of lines that keeps – generally – some chemistry going.

Keep it simple, don’t take any chances and up your game in front of Niemi and the Sharks will have a chance to win. The Sharks are a 2-1 team right now without Thornton’s playmaking abilities; meaning they need to play smart, tight hockey and keep the puck out of their own net more so than they have all year.

I love watching Winnipeg’s wild-child style of play so it should be an energetic game. I will be participating in the channel surfing Olympics with the Canada game and this one so hopefully I miss the disastrous plays and catch the good ones.

Thanks for reading.

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