Boughner optimistic latest coronavirus issue is minor
San Jose Sharks forward Marcus Sorensen remains unavailable to play, and it is not completely clear as to when he will be eligible to return, but coach Bob Boughner was optimistic the veteran winger would not have to miss much time.
Sorensen, 28, joined Tomas Hertl on the league’s COVID-19 list Friday before the Sharks played the Vegas Golden Knights at SAP Center. The game continued as
scheduled, with the Golden Knights beating the Sharks 5-4 in overtime. The two teams played again Saturday night.
Hertl has been on the
COVID list since Feb. 24 after he tested positive for the coronavirus. Boughner said earlier this week that Hertl had been symptomatic but has felt better in recent days. Hertl is eligible to return next week and could potentially play March 12 when the Sharks play in Anaheim against the Ducks.
Reasons for a player appearing on the NHL’S COVID list include an initial positive test that remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed, mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals, or required quarantine as a high-risk close contact.
Players can also be put on the list due to isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the league’s protocol.
Boughner on Saturday said Sorensen was feeling fine and that there had been no other issues on the team.
“I think it’s very isolated. Everybody’s fine,” Boughner said. “It might just be a couple of days here, and he’s back. So right now, there’s nothing definite, and there’s no sense of worry with the rest of the guys.”
With Sorensen still out, the Sharks went with the same forwards and defense pairs for the second game of their series with the Golden Knights. Joel Kellman centered the fourth line with Matt Nieto and Kurtis Gabriel on the wings.
Gabriel fought with Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves at the start of the third period of Friday’s game, something the
Sharks felt gave them a jolt of energy as both Logan Couture and Kevin Labanc scored later in the period to send the game into overtime.
Max Pacioretty had the winner for Vegas in overtime as the Sharks fell to 1-3-1 on their seven-game homestand.
“That’s two tough guys going at it, and I think we’ve all kind of been anticipating that; they’ve been going back and forth for a while now,” Nieto said Saturday morning. “That got the boys fired up. I know (Vegas) scored after that, but I think the energy on our bench definitely got a boost and we were able to claw our way back in the game. So I think that had something to do with it.” DUBNYK STARTS >> Goalie Devan Dubnyk got the start Saturday night after he came on in relief of Martin Jones on Friday, stopping 17 of 19 shots in just more than 38 minutes.
Coming into this weekend’s series, Dubnyk had a 4-0-1 career record against the Golden Knights with a .946 save percentage and 1.77 GAA.
Dubnyk’s last appearance before Friday was Feb. 27, when he allowed seven goals on 31 shots in a 7-6 loss to the St. Louis Blues.