William Eklund to Miss Second Consecutive Game vs. Seattle Kraken
William Eklund, the forward for the San Jose Sharks, will be absent for his second straight game on Wednesday as the Sharks take on the Pacific Division leaders, the Seattle Kraken, at Climate Pledge Arena. The Sharks aim to extend their season-long point streak to four games despite his absence.
Eklund, tied for second on the team with 11 points, did not travel with the Sharks to Seattle, continuing to manage a lower-body injury. This injury also sidelined him during Sunday’s home game against the Detroit Red Wings, which the Sharks lost 3-2 in a shootout.
“Eklund has had the injury for over a week and is considered day-to-day, but is trending in the right direction,” said Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky.
Warsofsky remains uncertain if Eklund will be placed on injured reserve, as the Sharks prepare to face the Winnipeg Jets on Friday and the Florida Panthers on Saturday.
Eklund’s Recent Performance and Line Contributions
At 23 years old, Eklund was demonstrating some of the finest hockey of his NHL career late last month. Between the 23rd and 30th, he recorded four goals and five assists.
Eklund, along with Alexander Wennberg and winger Philipp Kurashev, formed the Sharks' most reliable line. Their efforts were notable not only offensively but also for effectively limiting opposing teams' top lines.
In the Sharks' 3-2 overtime victory against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, Eklund played nearly 21 minutes of ice time, highlighting his importance to the team when healthy.
Author's summary: William Eklund’s injury sidelines him again, impacting the San Jose Sharks' lineup as they face the Seattle Kraken, though the player shows signs of recovery and has recently been a key contributor.