SAN JOSE – Sharks winger Kevin Labanc, out the final three-plus months as he recuperated from shoulder surgical procedure, may very well be obtainable to play once more subsequent week, coach Bob Boughner stated.
Labanc was a full participant in Monday’s observe at Sharks Ice, the primary time he’s been capable of soak up contact in observe since he had surgical procedure in December to restore a separated shoulder.
Boughner stated Labanc will observe once more Tuesday however gained’t be obtainable to play Wednesday or Thursday when the Sharks journey to play the Arizona Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche, respectively. However Labanc may very well be cleared to play after he sees a specialist later this week, Boughner stated.
The Sharks begin a three-game homestand on Saturday after they face Joe Pavelski and the Dallas Stars, adopted by video games with the Edmonton Oilers on April 5 and the Calgary Flames two days later. Labanc’s final recreation was Dec. 11 towards Dallas, as he has six factors in 21 video games this season.
“He seemed good,” Boughner stated of Labanc. “You possibly can inform he’s contemporary. He had some pop in his legs. His conditioning is fairly strong at this level – that’s all he had been doing. In order that’s factor. A constructive signal.”
The Sharks is also getting Jonathan Dahlen again someday this week as he skated on the fourth line with Labanc, Scott Reedy, and Jeffrey Viel. Dahlen was struck within the face by a puck within the March 20 recreation with Arizona and has missed the final three video games.
Boughner stated the Sharks must see the place Dahlen is from a medical and conditioning standpoint earlier than they will decide when he can play once more. Dahlen additionally skated Sunday.
“It’s extra of a wait-and-see on him within the subsequent day or so,” Boughner stated of Dahlen, who has 22 factors in 52 video games.
COUTURE RETURNS: It seems Sharks captain Logan Couture will probably be able to play Wednesday after he was struck by a Brent Burns slapshot in final Thursday’s recreation with the Oilers, inflicting a bruised lung.
Couture stated the harm triggered him to cough up blood after he got here off the ice. With the world’s medical employees involved that Couture might need a punctured lung, he was taken to an Edmonton hospital. Nonetheless, the harm was not as extreme as first feared and he was capable of fly again to San Jose with the group after the sport.
Couture, who turned 33 on Monday, was a full participant in observe as he skated on a line with Noah Gregor and Rudolfs Balcers.
COMINGS AND GOINGS: Ahead Jonah Gadjovich and defenseman Jaycob Megna had been each absent from Monday’s observe. Boughner stated Megna had a upkeep day, however that Gadjovich, who has been bothered by an harm, possible gained’t be capable of play this week.
Gadjovich fought Anaheim’s Sam Carrick on Saturday, which exacerbated the harm.
“For him, it’s simply going to be letting it cool down for in all probability the subsequent week or so,” Boughner stated.
Ahead Matt Nieto, who wanted stitches in his proper hand after he was reduce in a March 18 recreation towards Colorado, skated earlier than the beginning of Monday’s observe. Nieto can’t shoot or stickhandle in the meanwhile as he waits to get the stitches out and for the wound to heal slightly extra.