Preview/Lines #28: Karlsson Back at Practice

OTTAWA – Erik Karlsson has missed about a half-dozen or so practices this season – every absence labeled a “maintenance day” by head coach David Quinn.

And hey, who can argue with results?

The oft-injured defenseman has enjoyed a comeback campaign, appearing in all 27 San Jose Sharks games this year, while pacing all NHL defensemen with 11 goals and 33 points.

But every NHL player, from superstar to grinder, is expected to practice, and Karlsson is no different.

Karlsson was back at practice on Friday afternoon.

“It was a stretch we were going through, some health issues from him, he’s obviously had some injury history. We’re always monitoring what’s good for him. He’s to the point now where when we have days like today, he can practice,” Quinn shared.
“He wants to practice. He wants to be out there. I think he’s in a better position now. We hope you’ll see him more at practice.”

So is Hart candidate Karlsson actually…healthier now than he was to start to season? That’s a scary prospect, for the rest of the NHL.

San Jose Sharks (8-15-4)

Quinn says Aaron Dell will get the start tonight.

There could be line-up changes tonight, but this is how the Sharks lined up last night:

#SJSharks lines tonight, Kahkonen starts — Gadjovich back in the line-up for first time since Nov. 23, had the flu:

Meier-Hertl-Labanc
Nieto-Couture-Barabanov
Gregor-Bonino-Kunin
Gadjovich-Lorentz-Lindblom

Megna-Karlsson
Vlasic-Benning
Cicek-Simek

Kahkonen

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 3, 2022

Buffalo Sabres (10-13-1)

How they’re lining up:

Skinner-Thompson-Tuch
Peterka-Cozens-Quinn
Mittelstadt-Krebs-Olofsson
Girgensons-Jost-Okposo

Samuelsson-Dahlin
Power-Jokiharju
Bryson-Fitzgerald

Asplund, Pilut extra. Hinostroza absent (left practice early yesterday with a minor injury, day to day).

— Heather Engel (@engelheather) December 4, 2022

Where to Watch

The San Jose Sharks will take on the Buffalo Sabres at 4 PM PST at KeyBank Center. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.