San Jose Sharks place top-six forward on injured reserve

San Jose Sharks forward Alexander Barabanov placed on IR with broken finger; Ryan Carpenter recalled from Barracuda

Alexander Barabanov of the San Jose Sharks has a broken finger and is considered week-to-week, according to coach David Quinn, prior to his team’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.

Barabanov, who was injured in the Sharks’ game against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, has been placed on injured reserve and will return to San Jose today to have his finger examined by a specialist, Quinn told reporters at Amalie Arena.

In a related move, the Sharks recalled center Ryan Carpenter from the Barracuda, though he is unlikely to face the Lightning.

Carpenter appeared for the Barracuda on Wednesday in San Jose, but did not record a point in the Barracuda’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Henderson Silver Knights at Tech CU Arena. Carpenter has six points in five games this season with the Barracuda.

Following Thursday’s game, the Sharks’ road trip concludes with games against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday and the Washington Capitals on Sunday.

Barabanov was hit in the left hand by a shot from winger Mike Hoffman in front of the Panthers’ net late in the third period of the Sharks’ 3-1 loss to Florida. Barabanov was then knocked down by a cross-check to the back from Gustav Forsling before Oliver Ekman-Larsson landed on him in Florida’s crease.

Barabanov had no points in six games this season, but he was still in the Sharks’ top-six forward group, as he had been for the majority of his two-plus seasons in San Jose.

Barabanov’s absence leaves another void for the Sharks to fill as they attempt to snap a six-game losing streak in Tampa today.

The Sharks, who are also missing injured centers Logan Couture and Mikael Granlund, have scored just eight goals in six games — the lowest per-game average in the NHL — and are 0-5-1. It is unclear when both forwards, who are suffering from lower-body injuries, will be able to return.

Barabanov, who was averaging slightly more than 16 minutes of ice time per game this season, was also a member of the Sharks’ power play, though the first and second units had only converted on three of 20 chances in six games.

According to San Jose Hockey For tonight’s game, Kevin Labanc will replace Barabanov on the Sharks’ top line with Tomas Hertl and Anthony Duclair, and Givani Smith, who was scratched Tuesday, will draw back in and play with Nico Sturm and Hoffman.

Barabanov, 29, is set to become an unrestricted free agent in July, but he has stated that he would prefer to stay with the Sharks because his two children were born in San Jose and his family has settled in the area. Barabanov has 93 points in 153 games with the Sharks.

Quinn stated that Mackenzie Blackwood will start against the Lightning, while Kaapo Kahkonen will face Carolina. Blackwood is 0-3-1 in four games but has a solid.914 save percentage, stopping 32 of 34 shots against the Panthers.

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