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Illness Causing Weight Loss Preventing Sharks Goalie From Starting Against Islanders

max miller
·2 min read

San Jose Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov won't start for the third straight game against the New York Islanders tonight.

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Askarov last started Jan. 11 against the Minnesota Wild, making three starts in the last four games. Since that game against the Wild, Askarov hasn't played, and now the reason is known.

According to Sheng Peng, Askarov is sick and has lost too much weight to start. However, he is feeling well enough to be the backup goalie for tonight's game. Alexandar Georgiev will make his third consecutive start and has played better lately.

"[Ryan] Warsofsky shared that Askarov had lost too much weight because of his illness to start tonight. So Askarov is not a game-time decision, he'll back up," Peng wrote.

It is unclear if Askarov would've started if the illness wasn't a factor.

The San Jose Sharks locker room has an illness running through it, which has caused some players to be game-time decisions against the Islanders. Timothy Liljegren didn't participate in the morning skate but is one of the players dealing with an illness. He is still an option to play.

Will Smith is projected to skate with Mikael Granlund and Fabian Zetterlund—a bump in the lineup for the young forward who was benched against the Wild.

Related: Sharks Bench Top Young Player Against Wild

Smith registered a primary assist during San Jose's 6-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

Nikolai Kovalenko has rejoined the team during their five-game road trip. He won't play tonight as Warsofsky wants him to get a few practices in.

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