San Jose Sharks forward Tomas Hertl will not play in Game 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday due to a lower-body injury, according to head coach Pete DeBoer.
The news comes a day after Hertl was absent from practice, only taking the ice briefly in a tracksuit before leaving.
The 22-year-old was the Sharks' best player through the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final, according to DeBoer. He netted one of the club's only three goals.
He finished third in ice time among all Sharks forwards in Game 2 - behind only captain Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton - with 20:20 logged in the club's overtime loss.
Likely that Zubrus takes Hertl's spot in the lineup. Could be Zubrus or Karlsson taking Hertl's spot on the line with Thornton and Pavelski.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) June 4, 2016
In 20 games this postseason, Hertl has amassed six goals and 11 points.
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