The San Jose Sharks are down in the Stanley Cup Final series 3-1. The Pittsburgh Penguins could wrap it up tonight on home ice. San Jose will be missing forward Tomas Hertl for the third straight game. He is listed as day-to-day with a lower body injury. How will this affect the Sharks?
Tomas Hertl was the difference for them in the regular season. He could score and set up his teammates with 21 goals and 25 assists for 46 points. In the playoffs he has 6 goals and 5 assists for 11 points playing on the top line with Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski. Hertl has been key on the power play.
According to yahoosports.com, Head Coach of the Sharks Peter DeBor said, “Our group all year has been next guy jump in. We wouldn’t have made the playoffs if we didn’t have that attitude. Logan Couture missed half the season. We had guys step in and fill those roles. Allowed us to keep our heads above water. That’s been our mindset all year. It was just the next man up.”
This is a big loss for the Sharks as they look to stave off elimination. Hertl takes pressure off of Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski on the first line. With him not on the line for game five, Thornton and Pavelski are forced to find each other on the ice to score.
Melker Karlsson is expected to take Hertl’s spot. Karlsson can score and find his teammates on the open ice. He has a total of 4 goals and 1 assist for 5 points in the playoffs. He doesn’t have ice time on the power play. The Sharks will have to find another skater to take Hertl’s place on the power play.
The Sharks still have great players to replace Tomas Hertl. It will be difficult since they are down 3-1. They must win tonight
to force a game six that would be in San Jose on Sunday. If they can, Hertl might be back in the lineup. Faceoff for tonight’s game is at 6 PM mountain time from Pittsburgh.
How much will the San Jose Sharks miss Tomas Hertl tonight?
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