Karlsson sits, hopes to return by Saturday
The Sharks played without injured defensemen Radim Simek and Erik Karlsson for a fourth straight game Monday night as they faced the Minnesota Wild at
SAP Center.
While Sharks coach Bob Boughner was optimistic that Simek would be able to return from an upper body injury Thursday when the Sharks host the Vegas Golden Knights, the outlook for Karlsson is a bit more uncertain.
The Sharks are hoping Karlsson can practice again by mid-week and if all goes well, play Saturday when they host the St. Louis Blues.
Simek and Karlsson were both unable to finish the Sharks’ Feb. 13 game against Vegas. Simek’s injury came as the result of two run-ins with Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault, and Karlsson was unable to play the final 11 minutes of the third period because of a groin injury, which he said last week is different from the one he incurred two years ago.
Karlsson skated briefly last Wednesday before the Sharks’ flight to St. Louis but had to quickly shut it down.
“If anything, what he’s learned from the last time around is catching it early,” Boughner said.
Boughner and Karlsson spoke Sunday at the Sharks’ practice facility about the need for patience right now.
“He wants to come back healthy and know that he could be a difference maker and not play as a seven out of 10 kind of player,” Boughner said. “He understands how important our games are coming up here and getting to the middle of March and having a run at home. Just try to be smart about it and I think he’s settled into the fact that the team is playing well, and that he wants to come back and when he does, he wants to be a difference maker.”
The Sharks handled their absences well, at least in their last three games before Monday.
With Fredrik Claesson and Nicolas Meloche stepping into the lineup as replacements for Simek and Karlsson, the Sharks went 2-0-1, beating the Anaheim Ducks on Feb. 15 and going 1-0-1 in a two-game series with the Blues on Thursday and Saturday.
In their two games with the Blues, the Sharks created 23 high-danger scoring chances at even strength and allowed 14, per NaturalStatTrick.com. The Sharks have changed some of their coverages in the defensive zone, but have also played a more straightahead, simple style.