One Sharks forward returns, another is injured as homestand opens

SAN JOSE – Will Smith will be activated off of injured reserve but the San Jose Sharks will be without fellow forward Klim Kostin on Saturday when they play against the Utah Hockey Club to open a three-game homestand.

Coach Ryan Warsofsky said the Sharks could also be without forward Tyler Toffoli on Saturday. He has an illness and is a game-time decision.

Kostin left Thursday’s game with St. Louis late in the second period after he hit Blues forward Brayden Schenn and got into a skirmish with Dylan Holloway. He is considered day-to-day, as the Sharks next play the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday and the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.

Toffoli had 16:10 of ice time Thursday, including seven shifts in the third period, as the Sharks closed out a 4-3 win over the Blues to end a three-game losing streak.

Smith’s last game came on Dec. 5 when he sustained an upper body injury against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He didn’t practice the next day and was placed on IR on Dec. 10 when the Sharks activated Barclay Goodrow.

Saturday morning, Smith skated on a line with Goodrow and Alexander Wennberg.

Smith has five goals and six assists in 24 games this season. In his last six games before his injury, Smith had three goals and four assists and averaged close to 14 minutes in ice time per game.

Please check back for updates to this story.