Karlsson expects to be ready for start of playoffs

The San Jose Sharks may be getting some reinforcement on the blue line come playoff time.

Erik Karlsson - who's missed 27 games this season with a couple of separate groin injuries - believes he's on track to join his teammates for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"I said a month ago I was going to be ready for the playoffs and that's still the case," Karlsson said, according to NHL.com's Kevin Woodley.

The 28-year-old insists he's not worried about his current groin issue hindering his ability to play at a high level once he hits the ice.

"... That's not going to be an issue, so for the head space there, it feels good," Karlsson said.

Battling injury-related adversity is nothing new for the veteran defenseman. Karlsson suffered a laceration to his Achilles as a member of the Ottawa Senators in February 2013, but he was able to make a late-season return and help the Senators win the opening round of the postseason.

"I have played through enough to know that as long as it's possible I am going to go and you are going to deal with whatever you have to deal with after the year and this is the case again. I'm not worried about re-injuring (his groin) or getting another injury; that's not the way I approach the game, especially this time of year."

Karlsson has contributed three goals and 45 points in 52 games during his first season with the Sharks.

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