Without Jonathan Dahlen, San Jose Sharks shuffle forward lines

SAN JOSE – Sharks forward Jonathan Dahlen did not practice Sunday morning, a day after he suffered an upper-body injury in a game against the Washington Capitals.

Rudolfs Balcers took Dahlen’s place on the Sharks’ top line with captain Logan Couture and Timo Meier. The Sharks also had Noah Gregor on the second line with center Tomas Hertl and fellow winger Alexander Barabanov.

Kevin Labanc, after he served his one-game suspension Saturday for slew-footing Tyler Bozak of the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, skated with new third-line center Jasper Weatherby and winger Matt Nieto.

Nick Bonino, who remains without a point in 17 games this season, centered the fourth line. Andrew Cogliano, Jonah Gadjovich, and Jeffrey Viel were the fourth-line wingers.

Dahlen was injured in the first period of Saturday’s game at SAP Center and would appear to be doubtful to play Monday night when the Sharks host the Carolina Hurricanes, who, at 14-2-0, have the best points percentage (.875) in the NHL. Sharks coach Bob Boughner is expected to provide an update on Dahlen after Sunday’s practice.

Dahlen came back to start the second period and skated for two shifts before he went back into the Sharks’ dressing room. The Sharks announced later in the period that Dahlen would not return to the game, which the team lost to the Capitals 4-0.

Dahlen was trying to control the puck behind the Capitals’ net when he was bumped by Washington defenseman John Carlson. Just a second later, Dahlen clutched his left shoulder and then grabbed onto the back of the Washington net with his right hand for support.

With the play having moved up the ice, Dahlen then headed straight to the Sharks’ bench and retreated to the team’s dressing room. Play was blown dead with 6:39 left in the period.

Boughner said Saturday night that Dahlen’s upper-body injury was going to get reassessed and that he and the team would know more about his condition this morning.

After the Sharks host Carolina, they face the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday to close lout their four-game homestand.

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