- Editor's note: Sheng Peng will be a regular contributor to NBC Sports California's Sharks coverage for the 2021-22 season. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
Life without Erik Karlsson starts (again) for the San Jose Sharks tonight.
Yesterday, the Sharks announced that Karlsson would miss about the next two months because of forearm surgery. Karlsson was enjoying a renaissance season, with eight goals and 26 points in 33 games.
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“The things that Erik does, running the power play and [with our] possession game and our exits and breakouts and things like that,” San Jose Sharks head coach Bob Boughner said. “He’s a big part of our offense. It’s a hole, we got to fill it. Opportunity for other guys to step up. As a team, we got to come together.”
Brent Burns will obviously be a big part of filling the hole. The Sharks’ most-used defenseman has actually piled up 12 points in nine games without Karlsson this year. San Jose actually has a 5-3-1 record sans EK65 this season.