Injured Labanc could miss Sharks’ weekend games
SAN JOSE » The already struggling Sharks might bewithout one of their top forwards for two games this weekend as Kevin Labanc is day-to- day with an upper body injury, interim coach Bob Boughner said Thursday.
Labanc, who did not practice Thursday, absorbed a hit from forward Lawson Crouse in the Sharks’ game against the Arizona Coyotes. Labanc was entering the Coyotes zone early in the second period of Tuesday’s game when he was met and hit into the boards by the 6- foot- 4, 220-pound Crouse.
Labanc, listed at 5-foot11 and 185 pounds, left the game momentarily but came back for two shifts late in the second period. He did not play in the third period of what became a 3-2 Sharks loss to the Coyotes.
The Sharks (16-18-2) on Saturday face the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues, who lead the Western Conference with 48 points. The Sharks host the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday before they begin a four- day Christmas break.
Labanc had been a part of the Sharks’ most effective line of late with Tomas Hertl and Joe Thornton. Hertl has four goals in three games, Thornton has two assists, andLabanc has one as the line has created more scoring chances than other combinations.
The loss of Labancwould obviously force the Sharks to adjust that line and their top power play unit. Labanc, who is averaging just over 16 minutes of ice time per game this season, has 19 points in 36 games.
Labanc’s potential absence is just the latest piece of adversity facing the Sharks, who are 1- 6-1 this month and 1-2- 0 under Boughner. Entering Thursday, the Sharks were six points out of a Western Conference playoff spot.
“With ( Labanc) out, we’ve got to get creative. We’ve got to change the look of our power play a little bit, all of those things,” Boughner said. “Until we find the right ingredients, we’ve got some work to do.”
Defenseman Mario Ferraro also did not practice Thursday and is still considered day-to- day with an upper body injury, Ferraro was scratched for Tuesday’s game as Jacob Middleton played alongside Tim Heed on the Sharks’ third defense pair. SHARKS CLAIM NOESEN » Making a move to bolster their right side forward depth, the Sharks claimed Stefan Noesen off waivers from Pittsburgh. Noesen, 26, had one goal in six games for the Penguins after he signed a one-year, two-way deal Dec. 2 with the team. In 165 career NHL games with the Anaheim Ducks, New Jersey Devils and Penguins, Noesen has 25 goals, 46 points and 88 penalty minutes. Noesen, a 2011 first round draft choice by the Ottawa Senators, is expected to join the Sharks for practice Friday andwill be in the lineup Saturday, Boughner said. Boughner need “It’s a right a good said. shot. “One, pickup,” We need we a right shot badly up front. Two, a guy that has some experience and three, we can always use a guy that can put the puck in the net." Noesen was part of the 2013 blockbuster trade that saw forward Bobby Ryan go from Anaheim to Ottawa. The Ducks received Noesen, Jakob Silfverberg and a first-round draft pick that turned into forward Nick Ritchie.
The Sharks have suffered from a lack of production from their bottom two forwards lines for most of the season and entered Thursday 23rd in the NHL with an average of 2.67 goals per game.
Boughner said he did not know how he would use Noesen once he arrives, although with Labanc possibly out Saturday, the Sharks may have an opening at right wing on their second line. KELLMANPROMOTED » Also Thursday, the Sharks recalled Joel Kellman, Noah Gregor and Middleton from the Barracuda.
This is Kellman’s first recall to the Sharks as he had 16 points in 25 games with the Barracuda. Kellman, 25, signed with the Sharks in April after four full seasons in the SwedishHockey League. He said he had a “good connection” with Shin Larsson, the Sharks’ supervisor of European scouting, and generalmanager Doug Wilson.
“He’s a smart guy, twoway guy, responsible,” Boughner said of Kellman, a center. “He’s pretty good in the faceoff circle and that’s something that we’re weak at right now. We’re trying to give different guys shots and give some different looks to guys that are responsible away from the puck.”
• With Middleton recalled Thursday, defenseman Radim Simek was placed on injured reserve. Simek, out of the lineup since Dec. 8, skated Thursday morning.
Boughner, though, reiterated that he would like to give Simek a few extra days over the Christmas break to heal after he had his knee scoped Dec. 9 to relieve irritation in the meniscus. The Sharks’ first game after Christmas is against the Los Angeles Kings on Dec. 27.