Getty Images Brent Burns, the San Jose Sharks 27-year-old defenseman who hasn’t played a game this season due to a lower body injury, could play Saturday, according to a report from CSN Bay Area.
Burns is coming off off-season hernia/groin surgery, and has been a participant at practice this week. The Sharks host the Phoenix Coyotes Saturday.
“It’s an indication he’s getting closer. I think the better indicator is the amount of participation of him in practice in comparison to other weeks,” Sharks head coach Todd McLellan told CSN Bay Area.
“He was physical today, he did every drill, [and] he was involved in the power play and penalty kill part of it.”
McLellan added that Burns playing Saturday “…may be pushing it.”
Burns, a former first-round pick of the Minnesota Wild, had 11 goals and 37 points in 81 games in his first season with the Sharks last year.
Burns is only two years removed from a career season, in which he tallied 17 goals and 46 points with the Wild.
According to Curtis Pashelka of the San Jose Mercury News, Burns will make the Sharks’ upcoming road trip through the Central Division, beginning Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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Dallas Eakins is ‘fully aware’ there are NHL coaching vacancies
May 22, 2013, 4:20 PM EDT
“Will we look at them? Absolutely.”
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Pittsburgh’s power play is just 1-for-12 in its past two games.
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Report: Canucks fire head coach Vigneault, assistants Bowness and Brown
May 22, 2013, 3:48 PM EDT
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Vancouver cleans house.
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After starring for Team USA, Ducks goalie Gibson ‘ready for the NHL right now’
May 22, 2013, 3:31 PM EDT
Decent goaltending depth in Anaheim at the moment.
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Darin Pastor wants to know why his offer to buy the Coyotes was rejected
May 22, 2013, 2:47 PM EDT
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Click to read two good reasons.
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AP
This should make the Keith Ballard buyout easier to stomach.
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Question for commenters: What, if anything, needs to be done about the officiating?
May 22, 2013, 2:07 PM EDT
Go have your say.
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Top-ranked Russian prospect Nichushkin will play in North America next year
May 22, 2013, 1:55 PM EDT
He’s expected to be a top-5 pick at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
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Club says he suffered no injuries.
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His contract with the Coyotes is up June 30.
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Stone to make ’13 postseason debut for Sens in Game 4 vs. Pens, Conacher out
May 22, 2013, 11:10 AM EDT
Bold, but familiar move from Ottawa head coach Paul MacLean.
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Veteran defenseman spent 15 years in the league.
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Pending RFA not expected to re-sign with Jets.
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If they were, it would add fuel to the speculation that the team might relocate to Quebec City.
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He doesn’t have a goal in eight postseason contests.
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It’s not clear if they will be available on Thursday.
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The match starts at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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AP
Wednesday’s collection of links.
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He was pretty good.
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Kings’ Sutter: ‘They’re gonna say they lost sight of the puck’
May 22, 2013, 2:23 AM EDT
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Series tied 2-2.
