Sharks' Will Smith takes another positive step, could play vs. Red Wings

"Forward Will Smith could return to the active roster as soon as Friday when the San Jose Sharks face the Detroit Red Wings on the second leg of a four-game road trip, coach Ryan Warsofsky told reporters Thursday morning. Smith was a full participant in Wednesday's practice in Washington, D.C., and took part in the team's morning skate on Thursday prior to its game against the Capitals to begin the road trip."

"To activate Smith, who, along with forward Philipp Kurashev, has been on injured reserve since Dec. 15, the Sharks would have to clear a spot on their 23-man roster. Perhaps the simplest solution would be to put center Ty Dellandrea, who sustained a lower-body injury on Jan. 6 in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, on IR. Dellandrea is considered week-to-week and will be reevaluated before the Olympic break in early February."

"Nedeljkovic will start for the Sharks against the Capitals, perhaps setting up Yaroslav Askarov to start against the Red Wings on Friday. Nedeljkovic is 2-2-0 with an .867 save percentage in six career games against the Capitals, but is coming off a win over Dallas on Saturday when he made 16 saves in a 5-4 overtime victory over the Stars. This will be the 200th game, and 177th start, in Nedeljkovic's nine-year NHL career, in which he has a 81-68-29 record, a .902 save percenta"

Will Smith could return to the Sharks' active roster as soon as Friday for the game against the Detroit Red Wings. Smith fully participated in Wednesday's practice in Washington, D.C., and skated Thursday morning before the Capitals game. Smith will not play that night, and a decision about Friday will be made the next morning. Smith suffered an upper-body injury on Dec. 13 and has 29 points in 33 games this season. The Sharks are 7-5-0 without him. Activating Smith requires clearing a 23-man roster spot, potentially by placing Ty Dellandrea on injured reserve. Alex Nedeljkovic will start against the Capitals and approaches his 200th NHL game.

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