SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 30: San Jose Sharks’ Erik Karlsson (65) skates on the ice throughout heat ups earlier than their recreation towards the Philadelphia Flyers on the SAP Middle in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson will probably be out of the lineup indefinitely after he had surgical procedure Monday to restore what was described as a small muscle tear in his left forearm, placing the crew in a difficult spot because it tries to remain afloat within the Western Convention’s playoff race.
Karlsson, 31, had the surgical procedure in San Jose and will probably be reevaluated in mid-March, the Sharks stated, with no indication as to when the two-time Norris Trophy winner might doubtlessly return.
Karlsson is fifth on the Sharks with 26 factors in 33 video games and is third amongst all skaters with over 23 minutes of ice time per recreation.
The Sharks (21-19-2) enter Wednesday tied for fourth place within the Pacific Division with the Calgary Flames. The Sharks and Flames each have 44 factors, two factors again of the Dallas Stars for the second wild-card spot within the west.
The Sharks are additionally about to begin their most troublesome street journey of the season with 4 video games towards a few of the NHL’s greatest groups.
After Wednesday’s recreation towards the Washington Capitals, the Sharks play the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The journey concludes subsequent Tuesday towards the Tampa Bay Lightning. All 4 groups entered Tuesday within the prime 10 within the NHL’s general standings.
“We’re simply attempting to win our subsequent recreation,” Sharks captain Logan Couture stated. “When you begin to look method too far forward, that’s whenever you get in hassle.”
Karlsson didn't play Saturday within the Sharks’ 7-1 loss to the Lightning. Coach Bob Boughner stated earlier than the sport that Karlsson had been coping with the harm for a while and that he would quickly meet with docs to find out the subsequent plan of action.
The Sharks are scheduled to play 16 video games from now till March 12, because the crew has a 12-day break between video games from Feb. 2-13. 9 of these video games are towards Pacific Division groups.
The Sharks are 1-3-1 of their final 5 video games however are a stunning 5-3-1 this season with out Karlsson within the lineup. Karlsson and three different Sharks defensemen missed six video games from Oct. 30 to Nov. 11 for COVID-related causes, and Karlsson additionally missed video games towards Detroit and Philadelphia earlier this month due to an indirect pressure.
The Sharks are already determined for offense.
In 10 video games because the begin of January, the Sharks have scored a mean of two.60 targets per recreation, tied for twentieth within the NHL. They’ve additionally allowed 3.70 targets per recreation this month — the fifth-most within the league.
The Sharks’ wholesome defensemen are Vlasic, Brent Burns, Mario Ferraro, Radim Simek, Ryan Merkley, and Nicolas Meloche.
Two different defensemen, Jaycob Megna and Jake Middleton, are additionally on the Sharks journey.
Megna was hit by a shot within the decrease physique in Saturday’s recreation and didn't observe Monday, though Boughner was hopeful he may very well be accessible to play Wednesday. Middleton has missed eight straight video games as he recovers from a concussion he suffered on Jan. 4 in Detroit. Middleton skated once more Monday morning however continues to be engaged on his conditioning, Boughner stated.
“Subsequent man up,” Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic stated Monday about doubtlessly taking part in with out Karlsson once more. “We’ve had guys down with COVID, Karlsson’s been out throughout COVID, missed two video games with an harm, now he may miss once more. So, the subsequent man will step up.”
The Sharks may have near a full ahead group accessible for the beginning of the street journey. Rudolfs Balcers has exited COVID protocol after he missed the final two video games, and Jonah Gadjovich is again after he was injured for the final six video games.
Balcers had been out for six weeks with a lower-body harm and had scored in two of three video games since his Jan. 13 return, however examined optimistic for the coronavirus final week.
“Having (Balcers) again it will be massive,” Couture stated. “He was taking part in rather well earlier than COVID. So hopefully he comes again and feels good and will help us.”
Winger Kevin Labanc, out since mid-December when he had shoulder surgical procedure, might additionally return in March.