SAN JOSE – Melker Karlsson will potentially make his return to the Sharks lineup on Tuesday at home against Arizona, after missing the last seven games with a left foot injury.
The forward took part in his first full practice since the injury on Nov. 12, skating on the fourth line with Ryan Carpenter and Matt Nieto, with Micheal Haley also rotating in.
“Full practice, so we’ll see tomorrow, but I felt pretty good,” Karlsson said.
In 15 games this season, Karlsson has two goals and two assists for four points and a plus-three rating. At the time of this injury, he was part of an effective fourth line with Tierney and Tommy Wingels. He recorded an assist on a first period goal by Wingels in a 3-1 Sharks win in Tampa Bay before he wasn’t able to return for the second, after blocking a Victor Hedman shot.
Regarding his season, the 26-year-old said: “Started off pretty slow. I think I got up there before the injury, so it was kind of bad timing, maybe. I’m happy to go in there and try to do my best again.”
Wingels, who missed Saturday’s game with a lower body injury, returned to practice on Monday but was not on a line. He’s unlikely to play against the Coyotes.
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Marc-Edouard Vlasic missed the third period of Saturday’s game, but was a full participant in practice.
“We’ll see how everyone feels tomorrow,” Pete DeBoer said. “It was nice to have bodies back at practice today. I want to make sure guys don’t wake up tomorrow all of a sudden really sore because of something that went on today. We’ll hold off until tomorrow morning before we decide who’s in and who’s out.”
The coach said his goalie for Tuesday has not yet been decided. The Sharks play at Los Angeles on Wednesday in the second of a back-to-back.
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Ryan Carpenter remains with the Sharks after playing in his second career NHL game on Saturday.
What did DeBoer see from the 25-year-old that he maybe didn’t see last season?
“A little more confident, a little harder, a little more competitive, a little less in awe of the situation, and more jumping in with two feet into the middle of the battle – which is what you want,” he said.
Barclay Goodrow was reassigned to the Barracuda and still has yet to make his season debut.
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Brent Burns was named as the NHL’s Third Star of the Week on Monday. In four games, Burns posted two goals and four assists for six points, and also signed an eight-year, $64 million contract extension with San Jose.
The 31-year-old is tied with Joe Pavelski for the Sharks team lead in scoring with 20 points, which also leads all NHL defensemen.
