SOURCE: Dahlen Injury “Not Too Bad,” Back Soon?

Jonathan Dahlen suffered an awkward-looking upper-body injury on Saturday night.

A replay of how Jonathan Dahlen appeared to get injured. #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/hj9aNhGER3

— Michael Gutnick (@michaelgutnick) November 21, 2021

Dahlen left midway during the first period of the San Jose Sharks’ 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals. He came back for two shifts at the beginning of the second period before getting shut down for the night.

“It’s upper-body. He tried to come back in the second period, but he couldn’t,” Bob Boughner said post-game. “We’ll get it re-assessed tomorrow and know more in the morning.”

The earliest prognosis on Dahlen’s injury — the San Jose Sharks don’t practice until 11 AM on Sunday — is positive.

A source told San Jose Hockey Now before practice: “I hear it’s not too bad. Think he will be back sooner than later.”

After practice, Boughner confirmed SJHN’s source: “He worked out this morning. Definitely will not be playing tomorrow. I think after that it’s going to be more of a day-to-day not so much a week-to-week thing.”

He added: “He’ll be back, I’m hoping by mid-week.”

That’s good news for a better-than-last-year, but still shallow San Jose Sharks forwards corps.

Boughner shared that the process of replacing Dahlen, if just in the short-term, is already under way.

“I talked to [San Jose Barracuda head coach Roy Sommer] this morning. He talked about some of his players, who’s playing well and who could help us,” Boughner offered. “We’re gonna make a decision with management after this.”

There are two forwards who we know won’t be available to the San Jose Sharks this upcoming week: Jeffrey Viel, just back from a month-long finger injury, played his first game with the Barracuda on Friday. Boughner indicated, however, that he still wants Viel to get more AHL action to get back to speed.

Also this morning, Lane Pederson, injured on Nov. 11, took to the ice for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury in Winnipeg. Boughner, however, cautioned that the winger-center was at least a week or two away from returning to action.

The 8-8-1 Sharks take on the Metropolitan Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes at SAP Center on Monday night.

We’ll see if the Sharks call anybody up — notably, Scott Reedy has got off to a quick start for the San Jose Barracuda with eight goals in 12 games.

Scott Reedy Embraces Transition to Center

Feels good to be home 😁 pic.twitter.com/wncdyWWfwL

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) November 20, 2021