Boughner says Karlsson needs to simplify game
Two-time Norris Trophy winner could return today
Defenseman Erik Karlsson is hoping he can manage a lower body injury that’s already caused him to miss one game this week and could impact his availability for the Sharks’ next two games with the St. Louis Blues.
Karlsson left Saturday’s game with the Vegas Golden Knights at SAP Center midway through the third period after he played 18:30 in what became a 3-1 Sharks loss. He did not play Monday when the Sharks beat the Anaheim Ducks at home, 3-2.
Karlsson skated briefly Wednesday before he and the Sharks flew to St. Louis, where they’ll open a two-game series against the Blues tonight.
“It’s something that’s been lingering for a while,” Karlsson said. “Unfortunately (in) the Vegas game, it progressively got worse towards the second period and then at the start of the third, it wasn’t really operating the way that I thought was beneficial for the team. So that’s
why I decided to step away, which is never easy to do.
“Hopefully it’s not going to be something that’s going to stick with me. It’s one of those unfortunate things. But I’m going to skate today and I’m hopeful that it’s going to feel good enough that it’s not going to get any worse and you just have to deal with it.”
Karlsson said his injury is not the same as prior ailments, which include a groin injury two years ago that required surgery in May 2019. He also had ankle surgery in June 2017.
Although Karlsson said the injury was different, Sharks forward Tomas Hertl, asked after practice how Karlsson looked, said the two-time Norris Trophy winner appeared normal but added, “it’s not great, the groin stuff because you need for the (skating), using it all the time. Sometimes ... you take a step back because you don’t want to pull it more.
“But if it’s nothing serious, hopefully he can play because we need everybody right now.”
When Karlsson does return, Sharks coach Bob Boughner reiterated that he wants him to adjust his approach.
Counted on to be one of the Sharks’ offensive leaders, Karlsson has just four assists through 13 games this season. He is averaging 25 minutes and 36 seconds per game, secondmost among all Sharks skaters behind Brent Burns (27:12).
“We need Erik in, and when he gets in, I think we need him to simplify his game a little more and have some more urgency to his game,” Boughner said. “We’ve talked a couple times. I think his game needs to improve.”
The Sharks are 6-7-1 and have a stretch of upcoming games against the best teams in the West Division, including four games with the Blues, three with the Vegas Golden Knights and two with the Colorado Avalanche.
“We’re all trying to improve our game and find ways to be more successful out there at all times,” Karlsson said when asked if he agreed with Boughner. “We’re also playing other people and you can’t always control everything. I’ve been feeling really good physically throughout the year, even with this minor setback, which was frustrating and annoying but again, nothing you can do about it.
“The rest is a work in progress. Again, if it’s simplifying or if it’s complicating things out there, I don’t know how you want to determine that. As a team, we’re trying to figure out how we can be a little bit more successful with puck control out there.”
Starting today, the Sharks have 10 games in 19 days.
“Moving forward we have to really be smart,” Boughner said when asked he has to watch Karlsson’s minutes. “After this trip and especially in the beginning of March, we’re playing four games in six nights, seven nights every week on the way in here. So definitely going to have to manage minutes.”
Boughner also said that defenseman Radim Simek will travel to St. Louis, but sit out the next two games. Boughner is hopeful that Simek will be available to play Monday when the Sharks play the Minnesota Wild at home in a rescheduled game that was originally going to be played April 23.
Simek was placed on injured reserve with an upper body ailment after he had two run-ins with the Golden Knights’ Jonathan Marchessault on Saturday, which included a cross check to the rib area.
Boughner also said Devan Dubnyk would be on the ice Wednesday, as he appears to be on track to be available to play one of theSharks‘twogameswith St. Louis. Dubnyk had been dealing with a lower body injury recently and has not played since Feb. 6.