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Hertl misses practice with ‘a little something,’ DeBoer mum on Game 3 status

Tomas Hertl

San Jose Sharks’ Tomas Hertl celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Dallas Stars during overtime of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, in San Jose, Calif. San Jose won 4-3. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

AP

SAN JOSE -- The most notable thing about the Sharks’ practice on Friday is who missed it.

Tomas Hertl, arguably San Jose’s best forward through the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final, didn’t participate in the skate, only briefly taking to the ice prior to practice in a tracksuit before exiting entirely.

“Just maintenance,” Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer explained. “He’s got a little something that’s kept him off.”

Hertl, who has one of San Jose’s three goals in the series, took this hit from Pittsburgh’s Patric Hornqvist in the third period of Game 2:

Hornqvist-Hertl

The 22-year-old San Jose forward also missed some time in the second period, though it’s unclear why. He had just six shifts for 4:33 of ice time -- compared to nine for 7:22 in the first, and 10 for 7:05 in the third -- and only made his way onto the ice three times in the final 10 minutes of the frame.

With Hertl out, Melker Karlsson skated alongside Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski at practice.