Ahead Alexander Barabanov has been activated off of injured reserve, clearing the way in which for him to play within the San Jose Sharks recreation towards the New York Islanders on Tuesday at UBS Area.
Sharks coach David Quinn mentioned Tuesday morning that Barabanov’s availability could be higher recognized nearer to the 4:30 p.m. (PT) recreation time. The Sharks’ recreation towards the Islanders is the primary of 4 on their week-long highway journey.
Barabanov, 28, was a full participant in Monday’s observe on Lengthy Island and per experiences, skated on a line with Tomas Hertl and Steven Lorentz. Barabanov was additionally on the Sharks’ second power-play unit with forwards Lorentz, Nick Bonino, Kevin Labanc, and defenseman Mario Ferraro.
Barabanov has not but performed this season after he suffered an upper-body damage early in coaching camp final month. He skated all through final week, although, and took half within the Sharks’ full practices on Wednesday and Thursday.
Barabanov almost performed Saturday within the Sharks’ house recreation towards the Chicago Blackhawks, Quinn mentioned after his staff’s 5-2 loss that night time. The Sharks, although, wished to be cautious about bringing Barabanov again earlier than he was bodily prepared since he missed all however two days in camp after he was damage on Sept. 24.
Barabanov’s probably return ought to assist jolt a Sharks staff that has scored simply six objectives in its first 4 video games – all losses in regulation time — and is off to considered one of its worst begins as a franchise. The Sharks additionally began 0-4-0 in 1993 and 2019, however have by no means misplaced 5 straight video games to start a season.
The 1993-1994 staff earned a tie in its fifth recreation and in 2019-2020, the Sharks received their fifth recreation, with Patrick Marleau scoring twice in a 5-4 victory over Chicago in his return to the group after he began the season as a free agent.
Barabanov was fifth on the Sharks’ final season with 39 factors in 70 video games, as he primarily performed on a line with Hertl and Timo Meier.
Meier, the Sharks’ main scorer final season with 35 objectives and 76 factors, has 19 photographs on aim in 4 video games however has only one help. Per experiences, he’ll begin Tuesday on a line with Logan Couture and Luke Kunin.
James Reimer, who's 0-2-0 with 2.56 objectives towards common and a .924 save proportion thus far this season, is beginning for the Sharks on Tuesday.
In 15 profession video games towards the Islanders, Reimer has an 8-2-2 file, 2.72 objectives towards common and a .914 save proportion.
The Sharks nonetheless have defenseman Markus Nutivaara on injured reserve, as he missed most of coaching camp with a lower-body damage. Nutivaara’s damage is expounded to the one which triggered him to overlook 81 of 82 video games final season plus the playoffs, and it’s unclear when he’ll be capable to return.