VANCOUVER – San Jose Sharks forward Martin Havlat left midway through the first period of their opening game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks and did not return.
Havlat, who has been playing on a second line with Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau, left with nine minutes remaining and was evaluated at intermission.
Havlat had eight goals and 18 points in 40 games this season for the Sharks. He also had the best chance of the first period on an early power play, but Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo stretched across with the right pad to take away a mostly empty net.
San Jose was forced to juggle lines without Havlat, but still outshot Vancouver 15-9 in the first period, with seven coming on that early man advantage. The Sharks went on to take 1-0 lead in the best-of-7 series with a 3-1 victory.
Sharks coach Todd McLellan did not provide an update on Havlat's condition after the game.