Sharks’ top goalie prospect left solid impression during NHL stint

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Sharks returned goalie Yaroslav Askarov to the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL on Tuesday morning and recalled defenseman Jack Thompson.

Askarov, making his first start in San Jose, won his first game in a Sharks uniform Monday night, stopping 22 shots in a 7-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings at SAP Center.

In two games for the Sharks (7-12-5) since his recall on Nov. 18, Askarov stopped 51 of 55 shots for a .927 save percentage. San Jose was carrying three goalies on their roster, including Askarov, Mackenzie Blackwood, and Vitek Vanecek.

“He was good. He looks more and more comfortable every period he plays in the National Hockey League,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said of Askarov after Monday’s game. “Looks calm in the net. Made some big saves.

“Nice to have him cut some rims on the defensive zone so he can stop pucks up and get numbers around it. He does a really good job of it. … He’s a confident kid.”

Askarov enjoys coming out to play the puck to help his defensemen, and his pass to Mario Ferraro started a play that resulted in a first-period breakaway goal for Nico Sturm. But he perhaps still needs to refine his game in that area.

“It feels like I help a lot (the defense),” Askarov said after Monday’s game, “but (it was also a) little too much today.”

Askarov could be back with the Sharks later this season. Blackwood and Vanecek are pending unrestricted free agents, and speculation is that one could be dealt to another team around the NHL trade deadline on March 7, if not before. The Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes are believed to be in the market for a goalie right now.

Thompson was assigned to the Barracuda on Monday to create a roster spot for Sturm, who was activated off injured reserve. The Sharks now have 14 forwards, seven defensemen, and Blackwood and Vanecek.

Sturm was one of six goals scorers the Sharks had against the Kings, with Macklin Celebrini adding two, and Fabian Zetterlund, Timothy Liljegren, Alexander Wennberg, and Luke Kunin adding one each.

On Wednesday, the Sharks host the Ottawa Senators to continue a four-game homestand that ends with a game against the Seattle Kraken on Friday. The Barracuda’s next games are Friday and Saturday at home against the Abbotsford Canucks.