SAN JOSE – Turns out, the lower-body injury sustained by San Jose Sharks forward Jeff Skinner last week isn’t as bad as it first appeared.
Skinner did not suffer any broken bones on Thursday when he collided awkwardly against the boards in the first period of the Sharks’ game against the Calgary Flames, and could be back on the ice in roughly two weeks, coach Ryan Warsofsky said Monday.
“Hope to get him back on the ice around that timetable.” Warsofsky said. “It could be a little quicker, could be a little bit later, so we’ll see. But it’s getting better daily.”
Chasing after a loose puck inside the Flames’ zone, Skinner lost his balance, causing his right skate to collide hard against the boards. Skinner was unable to put any weight on his right leg as he needed help to get off the ice.
The Sharks placed Skinner on injury reserve on Saturday before they finished a three-game road trip with a 4-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken. Skinner was re-evaluated after the team returned to San Jose.
“Not horrible news,” Warsofsky said regarding Skinner’s injury. “It’s going to be week to week, but I think we dodged a bullet.”
The 33-year-old Skinner, who signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Sharks in July as a free agent, has seven points in 16 games. In 1,095 career NHL games, Skinner has 377 goals and 329 assists.
Before his injury, Skinner had mainly been a middle-six forward, averaging 12:22 in ice time with four goals and three assists in 17 games this season.
The Sharks recalled center Zack Ostapchuk from their AHL affiliate on Saturday, and he remained on the roster for Monday’s practice, centering the fourth line with Barclay Goodrow and Ryan Reaves on the wings.
The Sharks begin a four-game homestand on Tuesday against the Utah Mammoth, followed by games against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, the Senators on Saturday, and the Boston Bruins on Sunday.
In Monday’s practice, Alexander Wennberg centered the second line with wingers William Eklund and Collin Graf, and center Ty Dellandrea was on the third line with Adam Gaudette and Tyler Toffoli.
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