The Sharks found themselves in a bit of a bind with Yaroslav Askarov sidelined due to a lower-body injury. But fear not, Sharks fans, it seems the young netminder won't be out of action for long.
According to San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng, the injury isn't considered serious. Askarov, at just 23, has faced the typical ups and downs of a rookie season in the NHL, recording a 3.56 GAA and a .886 save percentage.
His -11.2 Goals Saved Above Average, courtesy of MoneyPuck, highlights the challenges he's encountered. Yet, with 40 starts under his belt, he's proving his mettle.
In the meantime, Alex Nedeljkovic will take the reins as the Sharks prepare for a back-to-back against Montreal and Ottawa. But with Askarov listed as day-to-day, Nedeljkovic's stint as starter might be brief.
In other hockey happenings:
The Sabres are dealing with a mix of good and bad news on the injury front as they gear up to face Toronto. The return of winger Alex Tuch, who missed the last game against Washington due to a lower-body issue, is a boost as they aim for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. However, defenseman Mattias Samuelsson is doubtful with an undisclosed injury, and newly acquired winger Tanner Pearson is sidelined with a lower-body injury from his stint filling in for Tuch against the Capitals.
Meanwhile, Panthers assistant GM Brett Peterson is stepping up as the GM for Team USA at the upcoming men’s World Championship, as announced by USA Hockey. This marks Peterson's second time leading the team, having done so in 2024. He's currently in his sixth season with Florida, and the tournament kicks off on May 15th.
On the Flames' front, defenseman Zach Whitecloud is back with the team on their road trip and participated in the morning skate, according to Sportsnet 960’s Derek Wills. Whitecloud, 29, missed the last three games due to an upper-body injury.
Since being acquired in the Rasmus Andersson trade earlier this season, he's been logging over 22 minutes per game, drawing some trade interest before the deadline. Now, it looks like he's set to return and continue to play a pivotal role as the season progresses.