SAN JOSE – Winger Igor Chernyshov, dealing with an illness, was unavailable to play Wednesday in the San Jose Sharks’ game against the rival Anaheim Ducks in the second game of a critical six-game homestand.
Chernyshov wasn’t on the ice for the Sharks’ optional skate on Wednesday morning and was ruled out before the start of Wednesday’s pregame warmups. It was unclear whether Chernyshov would be available for the Sharks’ home game on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With Chernyshov unavailable to play against the Ducks, forward Ty Dellandrea, who has missed nearly three months with a torn right posterior cruciate ligament, entered the lineup. Dellandrea was activated off injured reserve hours before Wednesday’s game.
After he returned last week from a head injury he suffered in a March 14 game against the Montreal Canadiens, Chernyshov, 20, had been playing on an effective Sharks’ top line alongside the team’s two leading scorers, Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith.
Chernyshov had two goals and an assist in four games on the top line and has 14 points in 20 games with the Sharks this season. Both of his most recent goals came in the Sharks’ 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, including the game-winner with 1:25 to go in the third period.
Dellandrea, who was injured in the Sharks’ game against the Blue Jackets on Jan. 6, started Wednesday’s game as the third line right wing with rookie center Michael Misa and Tyler Toffoli at left wing.
Before his injury, Dellandrea had been the Sharks’ third-line center for most of the season, establishing himself as one of the team’s top penalty killers and faceoff leaders. Misa has mostly been in that role since Dellandrea’s injury, and has 13 points in his last 28 games, although he is on a seven-game point drought.
“I’ve never been out for that long or had an injury of that sort, so it’s been eye-opening,” Dellandrea said Wednesday morning. “You learn a lot about how much you miss the game and maybe sometimes take for granted, just playing every night. So I missed a lot. Missed the guys. The guys have been awesome, supportive.
“Our staff has been amazing. Just helped me get back as quick as possible.”
Goalie Yaroslav Askarov will start for the Sharks, who are looking for their third straight win after beating the St. Louis Blues 5-4 on Monday to open the homestand. The Sharks entered Wednesday in 11th place in the Western Conference with 75 points, two points back of the Nashville Predators for the second and final wild card spot.
The Sharks’ homestand continues with games against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, the Predators on Saturday, the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, and the Edmonton Oilers next Wednesday.
The Ducks (41-28-5) lead the Pacific Division with 87 points, two more than the Edmonton Oilers. They will be without forward Cutter Gauthier, who had to leave Monday’s game against the Maple Leafs with a lower-body injury. Gauthier, who leads Anaheim with 38 goals and 65 points in 73 games, is not expected to have to miss much more time. The Sharks play in Anaheim on April 9.
