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LAS VEGAS — Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson’s time on ice dropped off substantially from Game 2 to Game 3 against the Vegas Golden Knights. But both Karlsson and Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said Monday that it had nothing to do with a recurrence of the groin injuries that have bothered the two-time Norris Trophy winner since January.
Karlsson played 29 minutes and eight seconds in Game 2, a 5-3 Sharks loss, as host San Jose went on eight power plays and had to play with five defensemen after Marc-Edouard Vlasic went down with an injury early in the second period.
In Game 3 on Sunday, Karlsson played just 20:54 as the Sharks had just three power plays and were on the penalty kill six times in a 6-3 loss. Without Vlasic, Brent Burns led the Sharks with 25:10 of ice time and Justin Braun had 22:34, as the Golden Knights had the man advantage for nearly 10 minutes.
“I think that’s just the way it goes,” Karlsson said. “This time of year, it doesn’t matter how much you play or whatever it says on the scoresheet. The only thing that matters is the score and yesterday they got the better of us. We just have to find a way to get back to the level that we need to be successful.”
Asked to put a percentage on where he’s at health-wise right now, Karlsson said, “I feel great.”
“We had a lot of penalty kills. It was just circumstantial,” DeBoer said. “There were no issues.”
Karlsson, who missed a combined 26 games from mid-January to early April with a groin injury, was on the ice for five of the Golden Knights’ six goals Monday, including all three goals by former Ottawa Senators teammate Mark Stone.
“I think he looked like our team last night, a little bit off,” DeBoer said of Karlsson. “I think our whole team could be better.”
Stone, 26, already has six goals in the series as he and linemates Max Pacioretty and Paul Stastny have combined for 22 points.
“He’s a good player. He’s always been a good player,” Karlsson said of Stone. “He’s still young. He’s still learning and has some more experience now. It’s fun to play against him. We just have to find a way to find that next level. You can’t worry about what they are going to do or how well they’re going to do, it’s all about what we do in our room.”
In the first two games of the series, Karlsson has been on the ice for six of the seven Golden Knights goals. He also leads the Sharks with five points, all assists.
“I don’t think anyone felt really good last night,” Karlsson said. “I don’t think we played the way we think we need to beat these guys. They’re a good team.”
Haley’s injury may open door for Donskoi
DeBoer said Monday that X-rays on Micheal Haley’s left ankle/foot were negative, although Haley was still plenty sore from blocking a shot by Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore during Game 3.
DeBoer labeled both Haley and Vlasic as day-to-day, although neither player skated at T-Mobile Arena on Monday when the Sharks held an optional practice.
Haley’s injury likely opens the door for Joonas Donskoi to rejoin the lineup for the first time this postseason. Donskoi has been a healthy scratch for the first three games of the series.
“I’ve been sitting out now for a while and I’m full of energy, and I just want to get out there and help the team,” Donskoi said Monday.
Donskoi finished the regular season on a personal 37-game scoreless drought, although he still wound up with 37 points in 80 games. He was a healthy scratch twice in the regular season, most recently on April 4 when the Sharks played the Oilers in Edmonton.
“You can start being (upset) and being negative, but I’m just preparing myself to be ready whenever I’m back in the lineup,” Donskoi said. “There’s going to be ups and down personally, too, but I’ve been working hard for a while, and I know I’m ready.”