The San Jose Sharks have placed forwards Will Smith and Philipp Kurashev on injured reserve, ruling them out for the team’s upcoming three-game homestand. This decision follows injuries sustained during Saturday’s match against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Smith and Kurashev were critical players for the Sharks, and their absence will significantly impact the team’s lineup.
Kurashev left the game against Pittsburgh midway through the second period after a hard collision with the end boards. Smith, on the other hand, was injured later in the game when he was checked into the boards by Penguins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon with 16:30 remaining in the third period. He immediately skated off the ice, visibly in pain and clutching his right arm. Following the hit, center Macklin Celebrini confronted Wotherspoon, leading to a brief altercation on the ice.
Both Smith and Kurashev had started the game on the Sharks’ top line alongside Celebrini. Prior to the injury, Smith was the Sharks’ second-leading scorer with 29 points in 32 games, while Kurashev contributed 15 points in 30 games.
In light of their injuries, the Sharks have recalled forwards Igor Chernyshov and Ethan Cardwell from the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League. This move aims to bolster the team’s offensive options as they prepare for their homestand.
The Sharks will kick off this critical stretch of games on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, against the Calgary Flames. They will also face the Dallas Stars on Thursday, March 7, 2024, and the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, March 9, 2024. As the team navigates these challenges, fans will be watching closely to see how the Sharks adapt to the absence of two key players.
