The San Jose Sharks are still evaluating captain Macklin Celebrini after the star forward was scratched shortly before Monday’s 5-0 loss to the Dallas Stars.
Celebrini took part in warmups and line rushes on Monday before leaving the ice early, prompting questions about whether the lower-body injury occurred immediately before puck drop.
Sharks forward Will Smith and his teammates realized Celebrini was injured when they returned to the locker room right before the start of the game against the Stars.
On Tuesday, however, Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky clarified that the injury didn’t happen during the warmups, but rather way in advance.
“It didn’t happen in warm-ups,” Warsofsky said. “This has been something we’ve been trying to manage here a little bit.”
San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng reported that Celebrini did not participate in Tuesday’s practice in Dallas but remained with the team. His status is considered day-to-day while the Sharks continue evaluating the injury.
Warsofsky was unable to identify exactly when the issue began, but TSN’s Chris Johnston reported later on Tuesday that the issue has been present since training camp.
“The sense right now is that there’s nothing to be too concerned about,” Johnston said. “He’s being evaluated, and they will see how he responds to treatment to a lower-body issue that he’s been managing through training camp and the early part of this season.”
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The 20-year-old and new Sharks captain has recorded five points through San Jose’s first two games, both wins, before the team dropped its first game of the season on Monday.
Warsofsky did not know Tuesday whether Celebrini would be available for Thursday’s road game against the St. Louis Blues, scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
San Jose will then return home to face the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday before hosting the Boston Bruins next Tuesday.
