SAN JOSE – Top defenseman Erik Karlsson couldn’t finish the game because of a recurring lower body injury, while captain Joe Pavelski and second-leading scorer Tomas Hertl didn’t return after high hits, and winger Joonas Donskoi had his day cut short after taking a puck to the mouth.
As if the San Jose Sharks aren’t facing enough of a challenge after a 5-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues Sunday at the SAP Center, which put them in a 3-2 hole in the Western Conference final, they now may face an elimination game Tuesday in St.