Sharks’ Karlsson out for season with broken thumb
ST. PAUL, MINN. >> San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson will miss the rest of the season after sustaining a broken thumb on his left hand in Friday’s game at Winnipeg.
The team made the announcement Saturday before San Jose was set to play at Minnesota. The Sharks also lost forward Evander Kane to a three-game suspension for elbowing Jets defenseman Neal Pionk in Friday’s game. The suspension was announced by the league’s department of player safety.
Kane will forfeit $112,900 that will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Karlsson, 29, had six goals and led the team with 34 assists and
40 points after signing an eightyear, $92 million extension last June. He played 56 games in his second season with San Jose. The two-time Norris Trophy winner also missed 27 of the Sharks’ final
33 games last season.
The team announced Karlsson will have surgery and is expected to be recovered in time for training camp in September. San Jose recalled defenseman Jake Middleton from the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League. OILERS 4, PANTHERS 1 >> Adam Larsson scored his first goal since last February, Leon Draisaitl added an insurance goal seconds into the third period and Edmonton beat Florida.
Darnell Nurse and Kailer Yamamoto had empty-net goals in the final two minutes for the Oilers, who have won three of their last four games.
It was the sixth loss in seven games for the Panthers, who are
2-6-1 since the All-Star break. Florida had entered the break on a sixgame win streak.
PREDATORS 4, BLUES 3 >> Mikael Granlund scored a power-play goal early in the third period and Nashville held off St. Louis.
Viktor Arvidsson, Matt Duchene,
and Kyle Turris also scored for Nashville, which improved to
3-0 this season against the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Jusse Saros made 24 saves to improve to 11-9-4 on the season. BRUINS 4, RED WINGS 1 >> David Pastrnak scored his 42nd goal of the season to lead Boston past Detroit, giving Bruce Cassidy of the Bruins his 200th victory as an NHL coach.
Brad Marchand scored his 25th goal of the season and assisted on Pastrnak’s goal for the Bruins, who have won eight of their last nine. Charlie McAvoy added a goal and an assist and Charlie Coyle had his
13th goal. Tuukka Rask finished with 25 saves to improve to 14-0-6 at home this season.
Cassidy has 153 victories with Boston and 47 with the Washington Capitals.
SHARKS 2, WILD 0 >> Martin Jones stopped 39 shots for his first shutout of the season, and Dylan Gambrell scored his third goal for San Jose in a win over Minnesota.
Melker Karlsson added an empty-net goal for San Jose, which won for the fourth time in five games after learning earlier in the day it would be without leading scorer Erik Karlsson and leading goal-scorer Evander Kane.
Alex Stalock made 19 saves for Minnesota, which lost its first game under interim coach Dean Evason a day after firing Bruce Boudreau.
MAPLE LEAFS 4, SENATORS 2 >> Auston Matthews scored and Jack Campbell made 24 saves for his third win in four games with Toronto.
Jake Muzzin, William Nylander and Mitch Marner also scored for the Maple Leafs.
Campbell improved to 3-0-1 since Toronto acquired him on Feb. 5.
Connor Brown and Cody Goloubef scored for the Senators, who fell to 1-5-2 in their last eight games. Marcus Hogberg was pulled after giving up three goals on 16 shots. Craig Anderson stopped all 14 shots he faced. STARS 4, CANADIENS 3>> Tyler Seguin scored twice, including the overtime winner, to give Dallas a comeback victory over Montreal.
Mattias Janmark and Blake Comeau scored in regulation for the Stars, who trailed 3-0 before rallying. Joe Pavelski had two assists as the Stars extended their winning streak to four games and improved to 6-1-1 in their last eight games.