Sharks assign Yaroslav Askarov to AHL

The San Jose Sharks assigned top goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov to the AHL, the team announced Tuesday.

Askarov started two of the Sharks' last three games - a 3-2 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday and Monday's 7-2 rout of the Los Angeles Kings - in his first taste of NHL action this season.

He posted a .927 save percentage and 1.96 goals against average while saving 1.46 goals above average and 1.26 goals above expected at all strengths, according to Evolving-Hockey.

Askarov also recorded his first-ever assist on the Sharks' opening goal of the game against the Kings.

San Jose's usual backup goaltender, Vitek Vanecek, hasn't played since Nov. 16 because of an upper-body injury, which prompted Askarov's first call-up of the season. Mackenzie Blackwood has taken on the bulk of the Sharks' workload and owns a .909 save percentage in 14 appearances.

Askarov has appeared in nine AHL games for the San Jose Barracuda this season, registering a .939 save percentage, six wins, and two shutouts.

The Sharks acquired the 22-year-old from the Nashville Predators in the summer.