Vlasic could play vs. Jackets; Murray won't

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COLUMBUSMarc-Edouard Vlasic could play on Tuesday night in Columbus after taking a puck to the face on Sunday, but Douglas Murray, who has a fractured Adams apple, will not.

Thats the latest on the injury front as the Sharks held an optional skate at Nationwide Arena on Monday afternoon as they prepare to face the Blue Jackets here tomorrow night.

There are two factors at play regarding Vlasic. One, he went for a CT scan about an hour before meeting with the media to make sure nothing is too badly broken, if anything is broken at all. Vlasic had a pretty sizable mark underneath his left eye and cheek, including three stitches to close an open cut.

The other is swelling. Vlasic wants to make sure his peripheral vision is not impaired so that he doesnt run the risk of hurting himself or his struggling club, which has lost three straight.

I would love to play but if Im not 100 percent I dont want to risk it, and I dont want to risk it for the team, as well, Vlasic said. Ill keep icing it, and hopefully by tomorrow it will feel better.

The injury could have been much, much worse, but Vlasics visor helped protect his face and may have prevented the puck from hitting directly in the eye, he said. When he returns hell have on a bigger visor, at least temporarily, much like the one teammate Colin White currently wears.

Oh, and in case you forgot Vlasic is a hockey player, he mentioned that he was a little disappointed he only required three stitches to close the cut on his face, and that hed rather deal with the pain than pop any pills.

Im not a big fan of medication. I took Vicodin yesterday. Didnt like it.

Vlasics importance to the team cant be overstated, as hes been a part of the top defense pair all season and is second on the team in ice time with 23:18 per game. He has four goals and 15 assists for 19 points and a team-high 18 rating.

Murray, who's missed the last two games with a fractured Adams apple suffered in Tampa Bay, flew back to San Jose to be examined by a Sharks team doctor. He will miss Tuesdays game against the Blue Jackets but Todd McLellan left open the possibility he could rejoin the team for its game in Toronto on Thursday.

One final injury note: Joe Pavelski, who took a slap shot to the head on Sunday early in the third period but later returned, said he was feeling no ill effects from the incident on Monday.

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