After 6 games, Hertl cleared from COVID list
SAN JOSE >> Sharks center Tomas Hertl is off of the NHL’s COVID-19 list, clearing the way for him to rejoin the team and in all likelihood, play later this week.
Hertl was placed in the league’s protocol on Feb. 24 after he tested positive for the coronavirus, which caused the Sharks to shut down their practice facility for two days and postpone a Feb. 25 home game with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Sharks coach Bob Boughner said last week that Hertl had experienced symptoms, including headaches, during his first week of isolation, but that his health was improving.
Hertl, under NHL protocols, was able to end his isolation after at least 10 days had passed since his symptoms first appeared. The league also requires that players go 24 hours without a fever and other symptoms improve to be considered for clearance to return. At that point, a team doctor or another medical expert needed to conclude that Hertl no longer presented a risk of infection to others.
At the end of his isolation, Hertl underwent cardiac testing. Hertl was required to refrain from exercise for a total of 14 days from the time of the first
positive test, so the Sharks knew they would be without him for at least two weeks.
In the 14 days he’s had to be away from the team, the Sharks went 2-3-1 and entered Tuesday in eighth place in the West Division with a 9-11-3 record.
The Sharks are scheduled to practice Wednesday and Thursday in San Jose and will travel to play the Anaheim Ducks on Friday and Saturday, desperately looking to rejoin the playoff race. As of Tuesday, they were seven points back of the Colorado Avalanche for the fourth and final playoff spot in the division.
Hertl, 27, has 11 points in 17 games this season as he
averaged over 19 minutes of ice time per game, playing in all situations. Hertl is the Sharks’ leader in faceoffs, winning 53.4 percent of his draws this season.
“Tommy’s a big piece of our team and losing him
for 14 days plus is difficult,” Sharks captain Logan Couture said Monday night. “We’re looking forward to hopefully having him back skating with us on Wednesday, fingers crossed, if all things go well.”
Without Hertl, the Sharks used Dylan Gambrell as their second-line center. Gambrell and linemate Rudolfs Balcers earned praise for their play Monday in the Sharks’ 3-2 overtime win over the St. Louis Blues, but Boughner was looking forward to getting Hertl and potentially Timo Meier back at practice.
Meier has missed the last two games with a lowerbody injury and is considered day-to-day.
“It will be nice when Hertl and (Meier) get back and everybody falls back into their slots, where they should be playing,” Boughner said, “and our matchups look a little better.”
Marcus Sorensen remains on the NHL’s COVID list, one of only three players across the league who are unavailable.