SAN JOSE – Defenseman Vincent Desharnais is questionable to play Saturday when the San Jose Sharks face the New York Rangers in the first game of a back-to-back situation.
Desharnais is dealing with an upper-body injury he played through in the Sharks’ 6-5 shootout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. Desharnais had 13:18 in ice time, well below his average since joining the Sharks earlier this month, and was credited with three blocked shots and one hit.
“Got to give him a lot of credit,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said of Desharnais. “He’s playing through a pretty tough injury, so we’ll see.”
Desharnais was one of four Sharks players who didn’t practice Friday as the team held its skate at SAP Center as part of an event for elevated season ticket holders. Defenseman Mario Ferraro and forwards Barclay Goodrow and Tyler Toffoli also did not skate but are expected to play against the Rangers.
The stay-at-home Desharnais has averaged over 17 minutes in ice time per game since he came to the Sharks on March 5 in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Recently, the 6-foot-7 Desharnais has been paired with the 5-foot-9 Luca Cagnoni, who has played in three NHL games.
It was not immediately clear who would take Desharnais’ spot in the lineup if he could not play Saturday.
Injured defensemen Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Jan Rutta skated apart from the group on Friday. While Rutta remains a little further away from returning, Warsofsky said Vlasic might be an option to play this weekend, either Saturday at home or Sunday in Los Angeles against the Kings.
Vlasic (upper body) has missed the last three games and hasn’t played since March 15. Rutta (lower body) has not played since Jan. 23.
Warsofsky reiterated Friday that the Sharks are confident Rutta can return before the end of the season. San Jose’s last game is on April 16 at home against the Edmonton Oilers.
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Defenseman Henry Thrun, who has missed the last six Sharks games with an upper-body injury, skated with the Sharks on Friday. He is now considered day-to-day, but he will likely not play this weekend.
The Sharks’ win on Thursday gave them 20 on the season, one more than last year. They are 3-4-0 on this season-long eight-game homestand, and entered Friday just two points back of the Chicago Blackhawks for 31st place in the NHL’s overall standings.
After Sunday, the Sharks play the Ducks in Anaheim on Tuesday, then return to San Jose to begin a three-game homestand.
