Preview: Struggling Blues Visit Surging Sharks in San Jose SAN JOSE, Calif. (Interstat) — The San Jose Sharks, riding a three-game winning streak, will host the struggling St. Louis Blues at SAP Pavilion on Friday night in a matchup of teams on divergent paths. The Sharks (30-29-0) have found momentum, most recently outlasting the Montreal Canadiens 7-5 on Tuesday. Rookie sensation Macklin Celebrini has been central to the surge, recording five points (one goal, four assists) over the last three victories. The 19-year-old center is coming off a dominant four-point performance against Montreal. In contrast, the Blues (22-38-0) sit near the bottom of the NHL standings. They snapped a four-game skid with a 3-1 road win over Minnesota on March 1 but have managed just three wins in their last 10 contests. Captain Robert Thomas, who had a goal and an assist in that victory, remains a bright spot. He leads St. Louis in scoring and will be a key factor if the Blues hope to spring an upset. San Jose’s recent success has been marked by high-scoring affairs, averaging over four goals per game during their streak. Beyond Celebrini, contributors like Alexander Wennberg and Kiefer Sherwood have provided secondary offense. The Blues, allowing 3.6 goals per game on average this season, will need a strong performance from goaltender Joel Hofer, who made 22 saves in the win over Minnesota. The game opens a critical five-game homestand for the Sharks as they attempt to solidify their position in the Western Conference playoff race. For the Blues, it begins a challenging two-game California trip before returning home. These teams will meet again in St. Louis on March 26. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PST.