San Jose Sharks forward Igor Chernyshov was knocked out of Saturday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre just 28 seconds into the first period with what appeared to be an upper-body injury.

Chernyshov had just taken a pass in the neutral zone from linemate Will Smith when he was checked by Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson, who briefly put his right arm around the Sharks winger to try and slow him down. Chernyshov then spun around and landed awkwardly on the ice before he slid face down for several feet.

A wobbly Chernyshov then tried to stand up twice before falling back onto the ice. A Sharks trainer then reached Chernyshov and held a towel to the right side of the Russian’s face as he helped the winger off the ice.

The Sharks announced during the first intermission that Chernyshov would not return. Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said Chernyshov was taken to a local hospital to be evaluated before he rejoined the team at the arena. Chernyshov traveled with the Sharks to Ottawa late Saturday night, but his status for Sunday’s game against the Senators is unclear.

Warsofsky added that he didn’t think Matheson’s play was malicious, although he thought an interference penalty could have been called.

“(Chernyshov’s) leg kind of got caught as he was skating around, and he just couldn’t protect himself on the way down,” Ferraro said of the play after he saw a replay. “So it’s more about what happened after the hit. I don’t think (the injury resulted from) the contact of the hit itself. When he fell, he hit his head. It’s tough. I hope he’s okay. I think he is. He’s a tough kid.”

“That was really scary,” Sharks center Macklin Celebrini told NBC Sports California during the first intermission of the incident. “Don’t really have a word on him, so I hope he’s alright.”

Chernyshov was replaced by Collin Graf of the Sharks’ top line with Smith and Celebrini. Graf and Celebrini had three points each Saturday as the Sharks earned a 4-2 win over the Canadiens to move into the second wild card spot in the Western Conference. The Sharks, with 70 points, are now one point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings, who lost 4-2 to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

Chernyshov was playing his first game back with the Sharks on Saturday after he was recalled from the Barracuda on Thursday.

Chernyshov also mostly played alongside Celebrini when he was with the Sharks from Dec. 15 to Jan. 22 after Smith was placed on injured reserve. Chernyshov had 11 points in 15 games in that time, averaging 15:47 in ice time. Saturday’s game was the first time Smith, Celebrini, and Chernyshov were on the same line.

Should this have been a penalty? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/sAvzLiGorn

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) March 14, 2026

Canadiens forward Cole Caufield opened the scoring at the 7:21 mark of the first period, scoring his 38th of the season off an assist from Juraj Slafkovský. Celebrini tied the game at the 13:12 mark with his 34th of the season, taking a backhand pass from Graf and beating Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes to tie the game.

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