San Jose Sharks' Igor Chernyshov (92) lies on the ice after being checked by Montreal Canadiens' Mike Matheson (not shown) during first period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, March 14, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

By The Canadian Press

Sharks forward Igor Chernyshov exits against Canadiens after scary fall

Mar 14, 2026 | 6:14 PM

MONTREAL — Rookie forward Igor Chernyshov is travelling with San Jose Sharks to Ottawa after leaving Saturday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens following a scary fall early in the first period.

Head coach Ryan Warsofsky said Chernyshov was released from the hospital after he collided with Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson roughly 20 seconds into the game and fell hard in the neutral zone.

The 20-year-old winger slid headfirst along the ice and bloodied his face. He then attempted to stand twice but lost balance both times as a linesman tried to hold him upright.

“A scary situation and we kind of knew he was going to be OK,” Warsofsky said after the 4-2 win. “Injuries happen and you see a guy go down, you got to play for him.”

A Sharks trainer rushed onto the ice and, along with defenceman Vincent Desharnais, helped Chernyshov to the dressing room as the Bell Centre crowd looked on quietly.

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“I just saw him down, I saw him try to get up and clearly he was not doing well, so I just tried to skate as fast I could and just trying to help him calm down,” Desharnais said. “Mikey Matheson, (Alexandre) Carrier, they all came to me after the first and asked me, ‘Is he OK?’

“I think it was kind of a bad luck play and I don’t think Mikey meant for that to happen and just bad luck. But I think he’s doing OK now and that’s all that matters at this point.”

Matheson said he was surprised to see Chernyshov go down in that manner.

“I kind of left the play and it kind of went the other way and made it all the way to the other zone before I realized he was even down,” Matheson said. “Then I turned around and saw him kind of stumbling and so definitely pretty scary.

“Not something you want to see and hopefully he’s OK.”

The Canadiens released a statement on social media, saying their thoughts were with Chernyshov.

A 33rd overall draft pick in 2024, Chernyshov was playing in his 16th NHL game and his first since being recalled from the American Hockey League’s San Jose Barracuda. With three goals and 11 points this season, he started the game on the first line with star forward Macklin Celebrini.

“You hate to see stuff like that happen,” defenceman Mario Ferraro said. “He’s played so well being up here. He just got called up. We’re excited and happy to have him, so it’s tough seeing that happen that early in the game, especially.

“I’m glad we got the win for him.”

The Sharks play the Senators in Ottawa on Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 14, 2026.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press