San Jose Sharks to be without three players vs. Flyers
SAN JOSE — The San Jose Sharks will be without two of their leading scorers and one of their depth players Tuesday when they face the Philadelphia Flyers looking to end a seven-game losing streak.
Forwards William Eklund and defenseman Jake Walman skated on their own Monday. But those two and Grundstrom, who did not skate, will not play against the Flyers as the two teams close out the 2024 calendar year.
Walman (lower body) was injured in the late stages of the Sharks’ 3-2 lo the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 21, and Eklund (upper body) was injured two days later when he was caught by a thunderous but clean hit in San Jose’s game against the Vancouver Canucks.
Grundstrom (upper body) was injured in the first period of Saturday’s game at SAP Center against the Calgary Flames, as defenseman Brayden Pachal knocked him down in the neutral zone. It appeared Grundstrom did not see the hit coming, and the back of his helmet hit the ice as he fell backward.
The Sharks lost 3-1 to the Flames and are 0-6-1 since a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 12.
Eklund is tied for second among all Sharks skaters with 27 points, including 20 assists. Walman, who has missed three straight games, leads all San Jose defensemen with 25 points in 32 games and leads all skaters in average time on ice (22:50). Grundstrom has five points in 30 games and is averaging 9 minutes in average ice time.
After Tuesday’s game against the Flyers, the Sharks finish their homestand with games against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, the New Jersey Devils on Saturday and the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 7.