Letang has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury but could be back Thursday vs. the Red Wings. Letang has missed a lot of time lately but had a point in each of the three games he played in between his two injuries, giving him 16 goals and 40 assists (56 points) in 63 games this season.
Malkin has missed the last eight games with an upper-body injury but was on the ice for Wednesday’s practice and will be a game-time decision for Thursday’s game vs. the Red Wings. Malkin centred Phil Kessel and Bryan Rust in today’s session.
Heinen played through an illness on Sunday but will be replaced by Chris Wagner on Tuesday.
Karlsson has missed the last three games and has no timetable for his return but the Sharks are confident that he will return to the lineup before the playoffs. The Sharks are locked into a playoff spot so they will not rush Karlsson back until he is 100 percent.
Karlsson has missed three of the last four games with a groin issue and will miss at least the rest of the Sharks homestand. Tim Heed will remain on the blueline with Karlsson sidelined.
Karlsson missed Sunday’s game in Detroit but will draw back into the lineup tonight in Boston. Karlsson had a slow start to the season but has had a great year, ranking tied for eighth among defensemen in points with 45 (3G / 42A) in 51 games.
Letang was hurt early in the Penguins outdoor game against the Flyers and it looks like they will go into Tuesday’s game missing both of their top-pairing defensemen. Letang is considered day-to-day, so monitor his status heading into Friday’s game in Buffalo.
Karlsson is set to miss his second straight game on Tuesday but it sounds like his groin injury isn’t overly serious and that the Sharks are just being cautious. With a playoff spot all but locked up, the Sharks want to focus on making sure that he is right for the postseason, so won’t rush him back.
