The San Jose Sharks will have their leading goalscorer in the lineup tonight for a huge tilt with the Blues.
Rookie Tomas Hertl, the NHL’s leading marksman with seven goals in five games, told CSN Bay Area he’s ready to face St. Louis after taking a pair of big hits in back-to-back games.
“I feel very good and I am ready tonight,” Hertl said.
The first of the collisions occurred last Thursday in Vancouver, when Canucks defenseman Alex Edler delivered this headshot, earning a three-game suspension:
Hertl appeared none worse for wear after the hit (he played 5:02 in the final period).
On Saturday, the 19-year-old Czech wasn’t as fortunate. This “worrying” collision with Ottawa’s Clarke MacArthur forced Hertl to leave the contest and not return:
Hertl took a maintenance day on Sunday and there was some speculation he could be held out of tonight’s affair as a precautionary measure.