SAN JOSE -- The Sharks would’ve liked to see Tomas Hertl penciled into Saturday’s lineup against the St. Louis Blues.
It’s looking like that might not be the case.
Hertl participated in team practice Friday, but coach Peter DeBoer told the media the 25-year-old forward "probably" won’t suit up Saturday when the Sharks have their rematch with the Blues.
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SIGN UP HERE It will be the second consecutive game Hertl misses on the Sharks’ current six-game homestand, after he was taken out of Tuesday’s win over the Nashville Predators with a lower body injury.
The Czech winger missed San Jose’s last bout with the Blues on Nov. 9 in St. Louis after being sidelined with a head injury. The Sharks lost that game 4-0.
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There’s no denying the Sharks would like to have Hertl healthy and back in the lineup as soon as possible, given how well he has played so far this season. He has scored 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 16 games, including an assist on Joe Pavelski’s first-period goal in Tuesday’s win over the Nashville Predators.
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With Hertl out of the lineup, it’s unclear how the Sharks' forwards will line up against Blues. DeBoer experimented with a number of line combinations with Hertl sidelined. It isn’t clear yet if the combinations used in Thursday’s loss to the Maple Leafs will be the same Saturday.