San Jose Sharks vs Calgary Flames Preview - November 13, 2025

The San Jose Sharks enter the Scotiabank Saddledome on November 13, 2025, riding a wave of momentum with an 8-6-3 record that has surprised many around the league. Their opponents, the Calgary Flames, find themselves in a much different position at 4-12-2, desperately searching for answers as they struggle through the early portion of the campaign. This Pacific Division clash offers contrasting narratives, with the surging Sharks looking to build on their impressive start while the Flames attempt to salvage what has been a difficult season.

The matchup features several intriguing storylines, including the continued development of Sharks rookie sensation Macklin Celebrini and goaltending adjustments for San Jose. Meanwhile, Calgary welcomes back Rory Kerins for his season debut and makes several lineup tweaks in an effort to spark their struggling offense. Both teams are dealing with injury concerns and roster shuffles that will impact their approach to this critical divisional encounter.

San Jose Sharks forward lines for the November 13, 2025 matchup

The Sharks’ forward group showcases the youth movement that has energized their franchise this season. The top line features the dynamic duo of Macklin Celebrini centering veteran Tyler Toffoli and fellow rookie Will Smith, creating a blend of experience and explosive talent. Celebrini has quickly established himself as one of the league’s most exciting young players, and his chemistry with Smith has been particularly noteworthy. Toffoli provides the scoring touch and veteran presence to guide the two rookies through the rigors of an NHL season.

On the second line, William Eklund anchors the left wing alongside center Alexander Wennberg and Philipp Kurashev on the right side. This unit has been tasked with providing secondary scoring and maintaining offensive pressure when the top line takes a breather. Eklund’s speed and skill make him a constant threat, while Wennberg’s playmaking ability helps distribute the puck effectively throughout the line.

The third line consists of Jeff Skinner, Ty Dellandrea, and Collin Graf, offering a combination of scoring potential and two-way responsibility. Skinner brings offensive experience to this group, having scored at a high level throughout his career. This line will look to capitalize on favorable matchups against Calgary’s depth defenders while maintaining defensive accountability.

The fourth line features grit and energy with Barclay Goodrow, Adam Gaudette, and Ryan Reaves. This checking line’s primary responsibility involves shutting down opposing threats and providing physical presence. Reaves, in particular, brings intimidation factor and experience, while Gaudette offers some offensive upside from the bottom six. Similar to their recent performance against the Colorado Avalanche, the Sharks’ depth scoring will be crucial in maintaining pressure throughout all four lines.

Calgary Flames forward combinations projected for November 13, 2025

Calgary’s forward lines reflect the team’s desperation to find winning combinations. The top line pairs Jonathan Huberdeau with Morgan Frost and Matt Coronato, hoping to generate the offensive spark that has been sorely lacking. Huberdeau, despite his lucrative contract, has struggled to live up to expectations since joining the Flames, and head coach Ryan Huska needs him to rediscover his elite form.

The second line will feature Rory Kerins making his season debut after being recalled from the AHL. Kerins centers Nazem Kadri and Joel Farabee, giving Calgary an opportunity to inject fresh energy into their lineup. Kadri’s veteran presence should help Kerins settle into NHL pace, while Farabee provides scoring ability on the wing. This line’s performance could prove pivotal in determining whether the Flames can generate enough offense to compete with San Jose’s balanced attack.

Samuel Honzek, Mikael Backlund, and Blake Coleman form the third line, offering reliability and defensive responsibility. Backlund has been a Flames stalwart for years, and his steady two-way play remains valuable even during difficult times. Coleman adds physicality and playoff experience, making this unit one of Calgary’s most dependable combinations.

The fourth line of Ryan Lomberg, Connor Zary, and Adam Klapka provides energy and physicality. Lomberg brings a nasty edge to the lineup, while Zary represents another young prospect hoping to establish himself at the NHL level. This group will need to set the tone physically and help wear down San Jose’s defense corps over the course of the game.

Defensive pairings in the San Jose Sharks vs Calgary Flames projected lineup November 13 2025

San Jose’s defensive structure features Mario Ferraro paired with John Klingberg on the top pairing. Ferraro serves as the Sharks’ defensive anchor, providing steady play in his own zone while contributing offensively when opportunities arise. Klingberg, acquired to add offensive dimension from the blue line, brings power-play expertise and transition skills that help the Sharks break out cleanly.

The second pairing consists of Dmitry Orlov and Timothy Liljegren, two mobile defensemen who can move the puck efficiently. Orlov’s experience, including his Stanley Cup championship with Washington, provides valuable leadership to the defensive group. Liljegren, still developing his game, benefits from playing alongside a seasoned veteran who can guide him through difficult situations.

Rookie Sam Dickinson anchors the third pairing with Vincent Desharnais, who earned his spot in the lineup over Shakir Mukhamadullin, Nick Leddy, and Vincent Iorio. Desharnais brings size and physical presence, complementing Dickinson’s developing skill set. The coaching staff’s decision to dress Desharnais suggests they&#039re prioritizing physicality against Calgary’s bigger forwards.

For the Flames, Kevin Bahl partners with Rasmus Andersson on the top pairing. Andersson remains Calgary’s most complete defenseman, capable of playing in all situations and logging heavy minutes. Bahl provides the physical element and defensive zone coverage that allows Andersson more freedom to join the rush. This pairing will face the difficult assignment of containing Celebrini’s line.

Yan Kuznetsov teams with MacKenzie Weegar on the second pairing, giving Calgary another solid defensive unit. Weegar signed a substantial contract extension and must deliver consistent performances to justify the investment. His mobility and offensive instincts make him dangerous on the rush, while Kuznetsov provides steady defensive play.

Jake Bean returns to the lineup after being scratched for five consecutive games, partnering with Brayden Pachal on the third pairing. Bean’s insertion suggests the coaching staff believes his offensive capabilities outweigh any defensive deficiencies that led to his benching. Pachal offers physicality and shot-blocking ability, providing balance to this pairing.

Goaltending situation for the San Jose Sharks vs Calgary Flames projected lineup November 13 2025

The Sharks face an unusual goaltending circumstance with Alex Nedeljkovic granted non-roster status to attend to a personal matter. This development forced San Jose to recall Jakub Skarek from the AHL on an emergency basis, giving them two available netminders for this game. Yaroslav Askarov projects as the starter, continuing his development as the Sharks’ goaltender of the future.

Askarov arrived in San Jose with tremendous fanfare after the organization acquired him in a trade with Nashville. The young Russian netminder possesses elite athleticism and reflexes, though he’s still refining his positional play and decision-making at the NHL level. His performance against Calgary will be crucial, especially considering the Sharks’ recent success has coincided with solid goaltending. According to The Hockey Writers, the team’s goaltending depth is being tested with Nedeljkovic’s absence.

Skarek serves as the emergency backup, likely watching from the bench unless unforeseen circumstances arise. His recall demonstrates the importance of organizational depth, particularly when dealing with unexpected absences. The Sharks will hope Askarov can deliver a strong performance and avoid any situations requiring Skarek’s services.

Calgary counters with Dustin Wolf between the pipes, one of the few bright spots in their disappointing campaign. Wolf has faced heavy workloads and high-danger chances, yet he’s managed to keep the Flames competitive in most games. His ability to make timely saves has prevented several contests from turning into blowouts, even as Calgary struggles to generate consistent offense.

Devin Cooley backs up Wolf, providing veteran presence in the crease. The Flames will lean heavily on Wolf to steal points when possible, making his performance critical to any hopes of turning their season around. Wolf’s positioning and puck-handling ability give Calgary confidence when he’s in net, even if the team in front of him continues to struggle.

Key injuries and scratches impacting the November 13, 2025 game

San Jose’s injury report lists Michael Misa with a lower-body injury, sidelining the prospect who many expected would contribute this season. The Sharks are also scratching Vincent Iorio, Nick Leddy, and Shakir Mukhamadullin in addition to Nedeljkovic’s personal absence. These decisions reflect coaching preferences and roster management rather than injuries, suggesting the organization feels confident in their current lineup configuration.

Leddy’s scratch is particularly noteworthy given his experience and previous contributions. His absence from the lineup indicates either performance concerns or a preference for younger, more mobile defensemen. Mukhamadullin, a highly-touted defensive prospect, remains on the outside looking in, suggesting he needs more development time before earning regular NHL minutes.

Calgary’s injury situation includes Martin Pospisil dealing with an undisclosed issue and top prospect Zayne Parekh sidelined with an upper-body injury. Pospisil’s absence removes a physical presence from Calgary’s forward group, while Parekh’s injury delays his development timeline. The Flames assigned Justin Kirkland and Daniil Miromanov to the AHL to make room for Kerins’ recall and Bean’s return.

Most intriguingly, Yegor Sharangovich sits as a healthy scratch despite being one of Calgary’s more talented forwards. This decision suggests either performance issues or the coaching staff’s desire to send a message about effort and accountability. When a skilled player like Sharangovich watches from the press box during a struggling season, it indicates significant frustration within the organization. Much like the lineup decisions seen in the Calgary Flames’ recent games, these choices reflect management’s attempts to spark better results through personnel changes.

What to watch in this Pacific Division showdown

This matchup offers several compelling storylines beyond the projected lineups. San Jose’s ability to maintain their strong start depends heavily on continued production from their young core, particularly Celebrini and Smith. These rookies face the challenge of sustaining their early-season success as opponents gather more video and develop game plans specifically targeting their tendencies.

Calgary desperately needs to find offensive consistency, having scored just two goals or fewer in multiple recent games. Their power play has struggled to generate dangerous chances, and their even-strength production remains below league average. The Flames must solve these offensive issues quickly or risk falling too far behind in the playoff race to recover.

Special teams could determine this game’s outcome. San Jose’s power play has shown flashes of brilliance with their skilled forwards, while Calgary’s penalty kill has been inconsistent. Conversely, the Flames need their power play to start producing if they hope to overcome their even-strength deficiencies. Discipline will be crucial for both teams, as unnecessary penalties could prove costly.

The battle along the boards and in front of both nets will test each team’s physicality and determination. Calgary must establish a physical presence to disrupt San Jose’s speed and skill, while the Sharks need to withstand Calgary’s attempts at intimidation. Whichever team controls the dirty areas of the ice will likely control the game’s flow.

The November 13, 2025 clash between San Jose and Calgary represents a pivotal moment for both franchises, though for vastly different reasons. The Sharks look to validate their surprising start and prove they&#039re legitimate playoff contenders rather than just a feel-good early-season story. Their young core’s continued development, combined with veteran contributions, has created genuine optimism around the organization. A strong performance in Calgary would further cement their status as one of the Western Conference’s surprise teams.

For the Flames, this game represents another opportunity to salvage a season that’s quickly slipping away. With just four wins through 18 games, Calgary faces difficult questions about their roster construction, coaching, and long-term direction. A home victory against San Jose could provide the spark needed to begin climbing back into playoff contention, while another loss would deepen the crisis surrounding the franchise. The projected lineups suggest both teams are making calculated decisions about personnel, setting the stage for an intriguing Pacific Division battle that could have significant implications for both organizations’ trajectories this season. According to the NHL’s official preview, this 9 p.m. ET puck drop promises to deliver compelling hockey as these divergent paths collide.