EDMONTON \u2014 Future Team Canada teammates Macklin Celebrini and Connor McDavid passed compliments back and forth.<\/p>\n
Current face of the NHL, McDavid, was asked about the 19-year-old\u2019s quick ascension to superstar status.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, he\u2019s got a lot of confidence. He\u2019s a great player, first and foremost, that\u2019s what it is,\u201d McDavid told Edmonton media on Wednesday. \u201cHe\u2019s driven, it seems like. You can tell, even last year, played against him, he plays hard. He plays not a typical teenager game. He plays a hard game. He\u2019s dug in on faceoffs, wins puck battles, and does all the little things that a veteran does.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Sharks are a heavy underdog Thursday. The FanDuel oddsmakers<\/a> have the Sharks at a whopping +152 on the moneyline. Of course, despite a season with a few stops on the strugglebus, FanDuel research still puts the Oilers in the Stanley Cup favorites<\/a>.<\/p>\n What does the future face of the league take from McDavid?<\/p>\n \u201cThe way he thinks the game. Always trying to learn from a guy like that. He slows the game down. Obviously, with his speed, he\u2019s able to push the defense back,\u201d Celebrini said. \u201cBut even when he\u2019s moving at normal speed, he\u2019s just thinking the game faster than everyone, especially on the power play.\u201d<\/p>\n Another sentiment that both superstars share? Celebrini said it, but no doubt, McDavid feels the same.<\/p>\n \u201cTonight, I hope he doesn\u2019t do anything, and in a week, I hope he does a lot,\u201d Celebrini laughed.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n San Jose Sharks (27-21-3)<\/p>\n Yaroslav Askarov will start.<\/p>\n Lines will be the same as last game:<\/p>\n Graf-Celebrini-Smith Orlov-Klingberg Askarov<\/p>\n It\u2019s many happy returns for the Sharks in Edmonton, as ex-Oilers Vincent Desharnais and John Klingberg return.<\/p>\n Also, Edmonton native Zack Ostapchuk comes home.<\/p>\n Ostapchuk shared that he was at Game One of Sharks-Oilers in the first round of the 2017 Playoffs. It was the first time that Edmonton had made the playoffs since 2006.<\/p>\n \u201cI just remember the energy in the building, I\u2019ve never seen anything like it,\u201d Ostapchuk, then 13, said. \u201cIt was just pretty cool to see live, especially the first playoff game in what, like 10 years here?\u201d<\/p>\n So Ostapchuk will have plenty of family and friends here tonight.<\/p>\n \u201cConflicting emotions in the family right now, telling me that you gotta go easy on them,\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n Edmonton Oilers (27-19-8)<\/p>\n No forward changes. \u2014 Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) January 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n EDM lines & pairs \u2014 Wednesday\u2019s practice:<\/p>\n \u2022 Ekholm* is not on the ice. <\/p>\n RNH \u2013 McDavid \u2013 Hyman Regula* \u2013 Bouchard Jarry \u2014 Tony Brar \ud83d\ude80 (@TonyBrarOTV) January 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Where To Watch<\/p>\n Puck drop between the San Jose Sharks and Edmonton Oilers is at 6 PM PT at Rogers Place. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Regenda-Wennberg-Toffoli
Eklund-Misa-Gaudette
Goodrow-Ostapchuk-Reaves<\/p>\n
Ferraro-Liljegren
Dickinson-Desharnais<\/p>\n
Ekholm is skating right now and will be a game time decision.
Ingram starts in goal. #Oilers<\/a> #Sharks<\/a><\/p>\n
Podkolzin \u2013 Draisaitl \u2013 Kapanen
Savoie \u2013 Samanski \u2013 Roslovic
Janmark \u2013 Lazar \u2013 Frederic<\/p>\n
Nurse \u2013 Walman
Stastney \u2013 Emberson<\/p>\n
Ingram
Pickard#Oilers<\/a><\/p>\n