from Paul Gackle of the Mercury News,

Karlsson left Tuesday’s game in Boston after he appeared to re-tweak a groin injury that sidelined him for 10 games over the last two months (more coming). In addition, Evander Kane insists that he took a cheap shot from Zdeno Chara and the Sharks lost their fourth straight game against a potential Stanley Cup contender, a string that includes two losses to the Bruins and defeats at the hands of the Washington Capitals and the Columbus Blue Jackets....

The Sharks need to consider giving Karlsson an extended rest.

Karlsson made the decision to play. It proved to be the wrong choice.

The two-time Norris Trophy winner returned to the ice on Tuesday after missing Sunday’s game in Detroit because he re-aggravated his nagging groin injury during the Sharks loss in Columbus on Saturday. Karlsson then left Tuesday’s game at 4:42 of the second after his left leg got stretched out as he attempted a lateral move to defend Charlie McAvoy, who received the puck in the left circle. He appeared to be in pain as skated off the ice without putting any pressure on his left leg....

Kane calls Chara’s hit a ‘classic head shot.’

Kane left the game at 3:22 of the third after he received a game-misconduct penalty following a fight with Chara. He jumped Chara after he took a shoulder to the head while reaching for a puck below the goal line.

The Sharks forward clearly took issue with the hit and the fact that a penalty wasn’t called. He wasn’t afraid to express that sentiment to reporters after the game.

“That was a hit straight to my face, head; whatever you want to call it, clearly,” Kane said. “What am I supposed to do outside, defend myself? I’m not going to sit there and take a direct shot right to the head.”

more

If you missed it last night, watch Karlsson struggle on the ice plus the Kane/Chara fight.