COYOTES (16-28-6) at SHARKS (33-17-2)
10:30 p.m. ET; FS-A, CSN-CA, NHL.TV
Coyotes team scope
The Arizona Coyotes are in 13th place in the Western Conference, but are 2-0-1 against the Pacific Division leading San Jose Sharks. The Coyotes have defeated San Jose twice at Gila River Arena and lost 2-1 in overtime on Nov. 29 at SAP Center. "San Jose's one of those teams that can make you look pretty silly if you don't come out ready to play so I think it's a team that you got to be prepared to play right from the start, especially in this building," said goaltender Mike Smith, who will make his sixth straight start. "We've done a lot of good things lately so hopefully that continues tonight." The Coyotes have lost two straight games. Forward Max Domi returned to the lineup in a 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday after missing 23 games with a broken hand. "It went all right," Domi said. "Obviously it was tough losing. I think our team came out a little flat. In the second and third we were a lot better."
Sharks team scope
Forward Micheal Haley will be in the lineup for the first time since Jan. 18 and center the fourth line for the Sharks, who are 8-1-0 in their past nine games. Haley missed five games with a lower body injury and then was a healthy scratch for two games. He'll replace rookie Ryan Carpenter. Haley leads the Sharks with 59 penalty minutes. "He has a physical presence, but he can also play and he's played very well for us this year, and our record when he's in the lineup is very good," coach Peter DeBoer said. Forward Patrick Marleau will play his first home game since scoring his 500th career NHL goal on Thursday in a 4-1 victory against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. "You just got to get right back into it," Marleau said. "We still have thirty-some games here, a playoff spot to solidify and all that. There's still lots to be playing for." Entering play Saturday, the Sharks lead the Pacific Division with 68 points, three more than the Anaheim Ducks, and have a game in hand. However, DeBoer said they won't look past Arizona. "They always play well against us," he said. "They always give us a hard time, and Mike Smith or whoever's in net always plays well." Martin Jones will make his 45th start of the season.
Coyotes projected lineup
Tobias Rieder -- Martin Hanzal -- Radim Vrbata
Brendan Perlini -- Christian Dvorak -- Shane Doan
Max Domi -- Alexander Burmistrov -- Jamie McGinn
Lawson Crouse -- Jordan Martinook -- Ryan White
Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Luke Schenn
Alex Goligoski -- Michael Stone
Jakob Chychrun -- Connor Murphy
Mike Smith
Scratched: Kevin Connauton, Peter Holland, Josh Jooris
Injured: Brad Richardson (broken leg)
Sharks projected lineup
Tomas Hertl -- Joe Thornton -- Joe Pavelski
Patrick Marleau -- Logan Couture -- Mikkel Boedker
Joel Ward -- Chris Tierney -- Timo Meier
Melker Karlsson -- Micheal Haley -- Kevin Labanc
Marc-Edouard Vlasic -- Justin Braun
Brenden Dillon -- David Schlemko
Martin Jones
Scratched: Tim Heed, Ryan Carpenter
Injured: Joonas Donskoi (upper body), Dylan DeMelo (broken wrist)
Status update
Donskoi will miss his fifth straight game. ... Meier will move from the fourth line to the third, trading places with Labanc. ... Hanzal will play in his 600th NHL game.
Who's hot
Marleau has a five-game point streak (seven goals, one assist). ... Pavelski and Burns each have a goal and three assists in their past two games. ... Rieder has three goals and two assists in his past five games. ... Ekman-Larsson has seven power play goals, including one against the Blackhawks on Thursday, and is tied for second among NHL defensemen.
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