As Game 5 approaches, uncertainty about Erik Karlsson looms
ST. LOUIS – Throughout their Western Conference Final against the St. Louis Blues, the Sharks have been able to say that they’ve been in this position before.
After all, the series has played out exactly the way the last round did against the Colorado Avalanche: Win the first game at home in impressive fashion but lose Game 2. Come up with a gutsy road win in Game 3 only to have the offense stall in a Game 4 loss.
So, here they are again, going home for a pivotal Game 5 with the Blues on Sunday at noon after splitting the first four meetings. The one major difference for the Sharks – at least in terms of this playoff run – is the uncertainty surrounding the health of defenseman Erik Karlsson.
Karlsson was in obvious discomfort midway through the third period of Friday’s game, a 2-1 Sharks loss. He missed a handful of shifts late in regulation time before he was able to come back for the final two minutes, when the Sharks pulled goalie Martin Jones and made one final push.
Coach Pete Deboer didn’t have a health update after Friday’s game and unsurprisingly, there was none forthcoming Saturday morning before the Sharks boarded a flight back to San Jose.
Asked if other Sharks defensemen may need to help pick up the slack if Karlsson can’t skate the way he did earlier in the playoffs, Marc-edouard Vlasic said Saturday, “We won’t worry about that until Sunday. We’re focused as if he’s playing. Only Erik knows how he’s feeling, so I can’t answer that.”
Karlsson missed 27 of the Sharks’ final 33 regular season games as he dealt with groin and leg maladies, but he’s played in every one of the Sharks’ 18 playoff games so far. His health has gradually improved, and his two goals in Game 3 and assist on Tomas Hertl’s goal in Game 4 gave him 16 points for the playoffs.