SAN JOSE -- Marc-Edouard Vlasic has carried the label of "one of the most underrated players in the NHL" for years, but that description has changed as more people recognized his abilities.
Now it's "he's one of the elite players in the NHL," and that's part of why his potential absence for Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round series could be a big problem Monday night for the San Jose Sharks against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center (10 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, RDS, CSN-CA, PRIME).
Vlasic did not practice with the team Sunday after not playing in the final 45 minutes of Game 5 on Saturday night. He didn't skate Monday morning and there reportedly was not a locker stall set up for him at Staples Center.