Sharks return to practice after COVID-19 result

It would have been understandable if the San Jose Sharks experienced some mixed emotions in their return to work Friday.

The Sharks practiced for the first time since Tuesday as no other player besides Tomas Hertl landed on the NHL’s COVID-19 list with a positive coronavirus test. Their home game Saturday with the St. Louis Blues remained on track to be played as scheduled.

They were also thinking of Hertl, with captain Logan Couture saying, “We all checked in with him and he’s in good spirits, so that’s obviously good news.

Good news in a bad news situation.”

But the reality also set in that the Sharks will be without one of their most important players in Hertl for roughly the next two weeks, if not more, just as they embark on one of the most challenging portions of their schedule.

Hertl tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this week and it appears he’ll miss the next six Sharks games or more due to NHL protocols.

“You’re safe to say he’s out for 14 days before we see him back in our lineup,” said Sharks coach Bob Boughner, who added that the veteran forward was asymptomatic and isolating at home. “Big loss, obviously.”

Hertl’s absence leaves a huge void for the Sharks as they try to get some traction in the West Division playoff race.

After Saturday, the Sharks (7-8-2) host the Colorado Avalanche on Monday and Wednesday, the Vegas Golden Knights on March 5

and 6 and the St. Louis Blues on March 8 — all teams with Stanley Cup aspirations. The game the Sharks were supposed to play Thursday with the Golden Knights, but was postponed due to Hertl’s positive test, has not yet been rescheduled by the NHL.

Hertl would miss every one of those games if he cannot play again until March 12 when the Sharks play the Anaheim Ducks. That is assuming the Sharks’ schedule does not change between now and then.

“Losing Tommy, your third- leading point- getter

and playing in all situations, it’s a tough loss and we’re already playing a little bit undermanned as well,” Boughner said. “It’s opportunity for other guys, but we’re getting into probably what I would say is the toughest part of our schedule here.”

Hertl is third on the Sharks with 11 points and is second among all of the team’s forward’s in average time on ice at just under 20 minutes per game. He plays on the Sharks power play and penalty kill, and takes more faceoffs than anyone on the Sharks roster.