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Havlat ‘getting closer and closer,’ could return for Sharks in Game 3

havlat

Sounds as though San Jose could be getting Martin Havlat back in the lineup on Saturday when the Sharks host the Kings in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal.

“Getting better. We’ll see how it goes [Saturday] morning,” Havlat told CSN Bay Area of his lower-body injury. “We’ll see. Like I said, we’ll see how it feels tomorrow.

“It’s getting closer and closer.”

Havlat, 32, had eight goals and 10 assists in 40 games with the Sharks this year, averaging nearly 16 minutes per game.

He was injured during Game 1 of the Vancouver series,but has since resumed skating with the team.

It remains something of a mystery as to what Havlat’s injury is -- all he would say is that it didn’t occur when Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa jabbed him between the legs.

Sharks head coach Todd McLellan said he was also unsure as to Havlat’s status.

“That’s Marty, mother nature and the trainer’s decision,” he explained. “I can’t speed any of those up as a coach. I hope that one day soon that he comes knocking on my door and tells me that he’s ready to go, because we could sure use him.”

The Sharks are currently without forwards Raffi Torres (suspended) and Adam Burish (broken hand) for this series and could use Havlat’s presence up front.

Burish confirmed to CSN that he broke his hand while blocking a shot in Game 4 against Vancouver. He was ruled out by the team for the entire second round, but claimed his goal is to return at some point against the Kings.