Improving Sharks will be without one of their leaders vs. Kraken

SAN JOSE Injured forward William Eklund will miss his second straight championship Wednesday when the San Jose Sharks face the Pacific Division-leading Seattle Kraken at Environment Pledge Arena looking to extend their season-long point streak to four games Eklund who is tied for second on the Sharks with points did not advance with the Sharks to Seattle on Tuesday afternoon as he continues to deal with a lower-body injury that also caused him to miss Sunday s home contest against the Detroit Red Wings a - shootout loss Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky reported Eklund who has had the injury for over a week is considered day-to-day but it is trending in the right direction Warsofsky reported he wasn t sure if Eklund would need to be put on injured reserve as the Sharks host the Winnipeg Jets on Friday and the Florida Panthers on Saturday Eklund was playing various of the best hockey of his NHL career late last month In five games from Oct - Eklund had four goals and five assists as he Alexander Wennberg and winger Philipp Kurashev formed the Sharks bulk consistent line not only with their scoring contributions but by holding the opposing teams top lines mostly in check Eklund had close to minutes in ice time in the Sharks - overtime win over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday He was held without a point but he and his linemates plus Yaroslav Askarov s exceptional contest did enough to slow down Colorado s top players and give the Sharks a second straight win over a playoff-caliber opponent San Jose also beat the New Jersey Devils - last Thursday The Sharks - - start is genuinely their best since the - season when they began - - He s a leader on this gang right now Wennberg commented of Eklund who is third among all Sharks forwards in average ice time Offensively he plays all over the ice and plays big minutes It s big shoes to fill But the group here is picking each other up right now Wennberg took Eklund s spot on the Sharks top power play unit during Tuesday s practice and forward Adam Gaudette took Eklund s place on the second line Gaudette was on IR as of Tuesday afternoon but is an option to play Wednesday Warsofsky explained Gaudette who has three goals and an assist in nine games has missed the Sharks last four games with an upper-body injury he sustained in the Sharks - overtime win over the Minnesota Wild on Oct The Kraken under new coach Lane Lambert are - - at home this season and are coming off a - win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday that moved them into first place in the Pacific Division before Tuesday s games They re structured They re very detailed Warsofsky stated of the Kraken I ve known Lambert he s a detailed coach He s going to expect details We need to penetrate the middle of the ice They re a fast crew that can get up and down the ice OTHER INJURIES Related Articles Five Sharks musings Roster questions await several huge paydays await others Sharks lose in shootout but Sam Dickinson has night he ll remember forever San Jose Sharks decide to keep top defensive prospect in NHL for now Sharks place tough guy Reaves on IR recall forward from San Jose Barracuda Kurashev stays hot Askarov bounces back in Sharks OT win over Avalanche Forward Ty Dellandrea who has five assists in games this season has a lower-body injury and is questionable to play Wednesday Warsofsky announced Dellandrea who did not practice on Tuesday was injured in the third period of Sunday s championship against the Red Wings He is averaging in ice time in games this season Defenseman Nick Leddy who has missed the last six games with an upper-body injury practiced again on Tuesday Warsofsky mentioned Leddy will take part in the Sharks morning skate in Seattle on Wednesday and be re-evaluated before the club plays the Jets and the Panthers Warsofsky commented forward Ryan Reaves out with a lower-body injury is trending in the right direction It remains unclear though if he ll be activated off IR before Friday s challenge Defenseman Mario Ferraro was given a maintenance day on Tuesday but is expected to play against the Kraken