San Jose Sharks still have just one experienced goalie as busy stretch looms
SAN JOSE — The Sharks are going to be leaning on goalie James Reimer for the next several days, and possibly longer.
Adin Hill, bothered by an undisclosed lower-body injury in recent weeks, will not practice anytime in the immediate future, Sharks coach Bob Boughner said, leaving Reimer as the team’s lone experienced goalie as it tries to remain in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Hill hasn’t played since Jan. 22 and the Sharks were hoping that he would be available to play once they returned from their extended break over the weekend. Hill skated with the team on Saturday and Sunday and was also on the ice for Tuesday’s practice, but Boughner said Hill continues to be in discomfort after each skate.
“It wasn’t getting better as we wanted it to, so we decided just to shelve him for a few days and keep him out of practice,” Boughner said of Hill. “He’s getting through practice when he does, but, the next day, he always has some pain in it. So we’re going to shut him down for a few days and see if that’ll help him.”
Reimer has started the Sharks’ last five games and will be in net again Thursday and Sunday against the Vancouver Canucks and Vegas Golden Knights, respectively.
Next week, though, the Sharks play in Anaheim on Feb. 22, followed by home games with the New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, and Seattle Kraken on Feb. 24, 26, and 27, respectively, to complete a stretch of five games in eight days.
“This week is fine, but next week when you have five games in eight days, that’s a concern. A real concern,” Boughner said. “So that’s the reason we’re trying to be smart with Hill and make sure that we have him and Reimer next week because we’re going to need them both.
“We can’t kill Reimer here.”
Zach Sawchenko remains the Sharks’ backup goalie. He has seen action in two NHL games, as he played for just over two minutes Monday late in the first period when Reimer had a skate issue. Reimer returned for the second period and finished the game, a 3-0 Sharks loss.
Sawchenko’s first career NHL game came Jan. 2 in Pittsburgh when he stopped 20 of 21 shots in relief of Reimer.
“In Pittsburgh, he battled for us hard, so (he’s) an option as well,” Boughner said. “But preferably you want your two veteran guys to be able to play.”
Reimer, in 27 games this season, has a 13-10-1 record with a respectable .916 save percentage and 2.82 goals-against average.
The Sharks (22-21-4) entered Wednesday seven points back of both the Edmonton Oilers for third place in the Pacific Division and the Los Angeles Kings for the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot.