The injury fallout from Saturday’s comeback win over Pittsburgh proved far less forgiving for the San Jose Sharks, who received discouraging updates on forwards Will Smith and Philipp Kurashev.
Bad News
Both players are dealing with upper-body injuries sustained against the Penguins and have been placed on injured reserve, sidelining them for a minimum of the Sharks’ next three games.
The Sharks were originally scheduled to practice on Monday, but head coach Ryan Warsofsky opted to give his players an additional day of rest. In response to the injury news, San Jose recalled Ethan Cardwell and Igor Chernyshov from the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda.
The Silver Lining
While it’s unfortunate that injuries created the opportunity, the 20-year-old Chernyshov is set to make his NHL debut Tuesday when the Sharks face Nazem Kadri and the Calgary Flames. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound left winger is producing nearly a point per game with the 'Cuda this season, posting 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points in 25 games. Selected 33rd overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, Chernyshov was prized for his versatility and elite skating ability and was named the AHL’s Rookie of the Month in November.
As for Cardwell, the call-up is familiar territory. This marks his second recall of the season after previously appearing in 10 NHL games, during which he scored two goals, including one against the Seattle Kraken on November 5.
As for Smith and Kurashev, the Sharks and their fans will hope for a more positive update from Warsofsky at Tuesday’s morning skate.
Next Game
San Jose enters the matchup looking to extend its winning streak to three games, coming off the largest comeback in regular-season franchise history. The Sharks erased a four-goal deficit in the final 10 minutes of regulation before handing Sidney Crosby’s Penguins a dramatic 6–5 overtime loss.
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