Kovalenko logged an assist in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Oilers.
Kovalenko has a goal and two assists during a three-game point streak since he got back in the lineup following a six-game stint as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old winger is now at 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists), 44 shots on net, 79 hits and a minus-5 rating over 54 appearances between the Sharks and the Avalanche. He's getting top-six minutes late in 2024-25, so he may be worth streaming for fantasy managers looking for a boost over the final week of the season.
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Sharks' Nikolai Kovalenko: Pots goal in overtime loss
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Kovalenko scored a goal, added two hits and blocked three shots in Wednesday's 8-7 overtime loss to the Wild.
Kovalenko stayed in a top-six role Wednesday, logging 16:19 of ice time while playing alongside Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. The 25-year-old Kovalenko has a goal, an assist, five hits and four blocked shots over his last two games after being a healthy scratch for the previous six contests. He's now at seven goals, 19 points, 44 shots on net, 79 hits, 24 blocked shots and a minus-6 rating over 53 appearances between the Sharks and the Avalanche. He doesn't have a lot of scoring upside even if he stays in the top six to close out the campaign.
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Sharks' Nikolai Kovalenko: Picks up assist in loss
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Kovalenko recorded an assist and three hits in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Flames.
Kovalenko had been a scratch for the previous six games, but he filled in for Tyler Toffoli (lower body) in Monday's contest. The 25-year-old Kovalenko helped out on the first of Will Smith's two goals. As the Sharks incorporate more prospects, Kovalenko has struggled to carve out a regular role. The winger has 18 points, 43 shots on net, 77 hits and a minus-7 rating over 52 appearances between the Sharks and the Avalanche this season.
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Sharks' Nikolai Kovalenko: Scores in second game back from IR
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Kovalenko scored a power-play goal and added four PIM in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Islanders.
Kovalenko was playing in his second game back after missing nine contests due to an upper-body injury. While he got the Sharks on the board in the second period with a power-play tally, his second penalty of the game led to the Islanders' fourth goal. Kovalenko shouldn't have trouble sticking in the lineup for the remainder of the season, but he'll likely be in a bottom-six role. He's at six goals, 17 points, 41 shots on net, 69 hits and a minus-8 rating over 47 appearances between the Sharks and the Avalanche this season.
Kovalenko (upper body) has been activated off injured reserve, setting the stage for him to play Thursday versus Colorado, per Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News.
Kovalenko has five goals, 16 points and 68 hits in 45 outings between Colorado and San Jose in 2024-25. His return coincidences with Luke Kunin drawing out of the lineup for roster management purposes.
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Sharks' Nikolai Kovalenko: Likely to return Thursday
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Kovalenko (upper body) is set to play Thursday versus Colorado, per Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News.
Kovalenko would need to be activated off injured reserve before he can draw back into the lineup. He has five goals, 16 points and 68 hits in 45 appearances between Colorado and San Jose this season. Kovalenko's return would likely push Klim Kostin out of the lineup.
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Sharks' Nikolai Kovalenko: Won't be ready for start of trip
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Kovalenko (upper body) could return during the middle of the Sharks' seven game road trip, Max Miller of NHL.com reports.
Kovalenko's return is not imminent. The Sharks begin a seven-game road trip in Calgary on Sunday, but it sounds like the winger will miss at least a couple more games before he's activated from injured reserve. Kovalenko will bolster the Sharks' bottom six once he's able to rejoin the active roster.
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Sharks' Nikolai Kovalenko: On injured reserve
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Kovalenko (upper body) was placed on injured reserve Thursday, per Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News.
This move frees a roster spot for Ty Dellandrea (upper body) to be activated off injured reserve. Kovalenko won't return until after the 4 Nations Face-Off -- the Sharks first game following the tournament will be Feb. 23 versus Calgary. He has five goals and 16 points in 45 appearances between Colorado and San Jose in 2024-25.
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Sharks' Nikolai Kovalenko: Out until after 4 Nations Face-Off
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Head coach Ryan Warsofsky said Friday that 'Kovalenko (undisclosed) isn't expected to return before the 4 Nations Face-Off, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
San Jose's first game after the tournament is set for Feb. 23 versus Calgary. Kovalenko has five goals and 16 points over 45 appearances in 2024-25. The Sharks are down to 11 healthy forwards, though it is possible that Ty Dellandrea (upper body) or Alexander Wennberg (upper body) will be available to return for the Sharks' next clash, which will occur Tuesday against Montreal.
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Sharks' Nikolai Kovalenko: Won't finish contest
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Kovalenko (undisclosed) won't finish Thursday's game versus the Kraken.
A reason for Kovalenko's departure from the contest was not made available. He had two PIM in 8:58 of ice time prior to his exit. The Sharks are dealing with a number of absences at forward, so if Kovalenko can't play Tuesday versus the Canadiens, a roster move may be required unless Alexander Wennberg (upper body) or Ty Dellandrea (upper body) can return.
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Sharks' Nikolai Kovalenko: Provides two assists in loss
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Kovalenko logged two assists and three hits in Thursday's 6-5 loss to the Predators.
Kovalenko was held off the scoresheet in his return from an upper-body injury Tuesday. He made up for it by assisting on tallies from Walker Duehr and Henry Thrun in this contest. Kovalenko is up to eight points in 14 games, matching his output from 28 outings with the Avalanche to begin the year before he was dealt to the Sharks. The 25-year-old winger has added 37 shots on net, 64 hits and a minus-5 rating.
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Sharks' Nikolai Kovalenko: Good to go
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Kovalenko (upper body) will play against Nashville on Tuesday, per Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.
Kovalenko will return to the lineup after missing the last six outings. He has five goals, 14 points, 60 hits and 37 shots on net in 40 games between San Jose and Colorado this season. Kovalenko will replace Carl Grundstrom in Tuesday's lineup.
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Sharks' Nikolai Kovalenko: Activated from IR, ruled out Monday
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Kovalenko (upper body) was activated from injured reserve Monday but has been ruled out for Monday's road game against Boston, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
Kovalenko practiced for a second consecutive day Sunday and was considered an option for Monday's road matchup. Although he's been activated from injured reserve, he'll be sidelined for at least one more game due to his upper-body injury. Kovalenko appears to be trending in the right direction, but it's unclear whether he'll be available for Tuesday's game in Nashville.
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Sharks' Nikolai Kovalenko: Not going on road trip
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Kovalenko (upper body) won't accompany the Sharks on the team's upcoming five-game road trip, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports Monday.
Kovalenko moved to injured reserve before Saturday's 3-1 loss to Minnesota, making him ineligible to play against Detroit on Tuesday. However, he could miss four more games if he doesn't join his teammates on the road. Kovalenko has five goals, 14 points, 60 hits and 37 shots on net through 40 appearances between San Jose and Colorado this season. Due to Kovalenko's absence, Ty Dellandrea has played in the last two contests.
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Sharks' Nikolai Kovalenko: Lands on injured reserve
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Kovalenko (upper body) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, per the NHL media site.
Kovalenko's move to injured reserve comes amid a rash of injury-related transactions for the Sharks. The 25-year-old last played Tuesday versus the Golden Knights. He was labeled day-to-day earlier Saturday, so his stay on IR could be brief
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Sharks' Nikolai Kovalenko: Remains day-to-day
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Kovalenko (upper body) is day-to-day and won't play Saturday versus Minnesota, according to Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News.
Kovalenko will miss his second straight game. He has five goals, 14 points, 60 hits and 37 shots on net through 40 appearances between San Jose and Colorado this season. While Klim Kostin (lower body) and Alexander Wennberg (illness) are unavailable to play Saturday, Carl Grundstrom (undisclosed) or Nico Sturm (lower body) might be options to return to the lineup. San Jose may also opt to use seven defensemen due to several injuries to the forward group.
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Sharks' Nikolai Kovalenko: Not available Friday
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Kovalenko (undisclosed) will not travel with the team to Utah for Friday's game. reports. According to coach Ryan Warsofsky, the forward is dealing with an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
Kovalenko has a goal and five assists in 12 games with the Sharks after he was dealt from Colorado in the Mackenzie Blackwood deal Dec. 9. Kovalenko had four goals and eight points in 28 games with the Avalanche before the trade, as he made his NHL debut this season. Kovalenko could return as early as Saturday as the Sharks are home to Minnesota.
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Sharks' Nikolai Kovalenko: First goal in teal
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Kovalenko scored a goal Saturday in a 3-2 win over New Jersey.
Kovalenko's goal was his first for San Jose since being acquired from Colorado on Dec. 9. He drove the net and fired low through Jacob Markstrom after taking a pass from William Eklund. Kovalenko had eight points (four goals, four assists) in 28 games with the Avalanche, and he's already put up six points (one goal, five assists) through 11 contests with the Sharks. But don't get too hyped on Kovalenko yet. He started hot once he arrived in California but had gone six games without a point before Saturday.
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Sharks' Nikolai Kovalenko: Garners another helper
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Kovalenko provided an assist and two hits in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Jets.
Kovalenko has five assists over his last three games. It's taken him virtually no time at all to settle into a middle-six role since he was traded to the Sharks from the Avalanche. The 25-year-old winger is up to 13 points, 29 shots on net, 42 hits and a minus-5 rating over 32 appearances this season, but it looks like his ceiling is much higher in San Jose, making him an option in deeper fantasy formats for now.
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