During the second period of the game against the Winnipeg Jets, Vitek Vanecek was struck on the side of the head by an errant puck after it was deflected by William Eklund. Vanecek immediately left the Sharks' bench, and subsequently, the team announced he was 'unavailable for the remainder of the game.' His absence left a gap for the Sharks, who had to rely on starting goalie Alexandar Georgiev while also ensuring they had an emergency backup ready.
The incident occurred when Jets defenseman Colin Miller attempted a cross-ice breakout pass. Vanecek, densely focused on the game, was unexpectedly hit as Eklund's deflection sent the puck careening towards the Sharks bench. Due to NHL regulations, the emergency backup goalie may step in should Georgiev suffer any injury, ensuring the Sharks had a safety net during the game proceedings.
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