Smith registered an assist in Tuesday's 2-1 overtime win over the Blue Jackets.
Smith set up Jack Thompson's first NHL tally late in the first period. With three points over his last three games, it appears Smith is starting to find his way in the NHL. The rookie center has added 15 shots on net, six PIM and a minus-3 rating over 11 appearances this season. While he's not expected to play every game early on, he should continue to see middle-six minutes and power-play time when in the lineup.
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Sharks' Will Smith: Tallies first two goals
Rotowire
Smith scored twice on three shots, including one power-play goal, in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Blackhawks.
Smith hadn't logged a point in his first eight NHL appearances. The 19-year-old center changed that, opening the scoring in the first period and then adding a power-play game-winner midway through the second. He's added 14 shots on net, six PIM and a minus-3 rating over nine contests. Smith has sat out three times so far, including one game in each of the Sharks' first two back-to-back sets. He will likely continue to have his minutes managed as he adjusts from the NCAA schedule to a full-length NHL campaign, so don't be surprised to see him be a healthy scratch with some regularity.
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Sharks' Will Smith: Healthy scratch Friday
Rotowire
Smith will be a healthy scratch Friday in Winnipeg, Max Miller of NHL.com reports.
The Sharks have decided to ease Smith into his first year in the NHL, as it is a long schedule, and are making him sit out the second game of back-to-back contests after playing Thursday in Chicago. The Ducks did the same thing last season with Leo Carlsson. so expect this to happen with some frequency the rest of the campaign with the highly-regarded Smith. The youngster has yet to hit the scoresheet in four games.
