Kovalchuk set to return from ankle surgery ahead of schedule
Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / Getty
Ilya Kovalchuk is "good to go" and should be in the Los Angeles Kings' lineup for Saturday's game versus the San Jose Sharks, head coach Willie Desjardins told reporters Wednesday.
The 35-year-old recovered from an ankle bursectomy procedure ahead of schedule after the Kings announced on Dec. 3 that he was expected to miss approximately one month.
Kovalchuk signed a three-year, $18.75-million deal to return to the NHL in the summer but his comeback hasn't gotten off to a particularly hot start. He's notched five goals and nine assists in 25 games for the last-place Kings.