The San Jose Sharks have placed forwards Will Smith and Philipp Kurashev on injured reserve, ruling them out for the team’s upcoming three-game homestand. Both players sustained injuries during the match against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, and their absence may extend beyond the immediate future.
Kurashev exited the game in the second period after colliding violently with the end boards in the Penguins’ zone. Smith suffered his injury later in the match, with 16:30 remaining in the third period. He was checked into the boards by Penguins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon, immediately skating off the ice while gripping his right arm. The incident prompted center Macklin Celebrini to confront Wotherspoon, leading to a brief scuffle on the ice.
Both Smith and Kurashev had been integral to the Sharks’ offensive lineup, starting as part of the top line alongside Celebrini. Before the injury, Smith was the team’s second-leading scorer with 29 points in 32 games, while Kurashev contributed 15 points in 30 games.
With the forwards sidelined, the Sharks have recalled Igor Chernyshov and Ethan Cardwell from the San Jose Barracuda, their AHL affiliate, to fill the gaps in their roster.
The Sharks are set to begin their homestand on November 21, 2023, facing the Calgary Flames. Following that match, they will take on the Dallas Stars on November 23 and conclude the series with a game against the Seattle Kraken on November 25.
As the team navigates these injuries, updates on Smith and Kurashev’s conditions will be crucial for fans and analysts alike.
