Mitchell skates, but no contact

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NASHVILLE, TN - Sharks forward Torrey Mitchell skated with the team in Nashville on Monday afternoon, but is questionable to play against the Predators on Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena.

The 26-year-old forward was hurt on his first shift on Friday night in New Jersey, when he took a high elbow from the Devils Nick Palmieri. He sat out Saturdays game in Boston.

It felt good today. Really close, he said. I dont know, maybe tomorrow, but if not then the next game, hopefully.

The Sharks are being vague with the injury, as they are entitled to do, saying only that its "upper body soreness."

Mitchell mentioned he is still experiencing some of that soreness, and refrained from any contact in Mondays practice.

Todd McLellan was pleasantly surprised with how Mitchell looked, though.

He practiced better than I thought he would, which is a good sign for him," he said. "Obviously, if he can play and be effective and remain healthy, then wed certainly use him. Well decide that Tuesday morning.

McLellan would have an interesting decision to make should Mitchell be cleared. The speedy forward was skating on the teams third line with Michal Handzus and Jamie McGinn when he got hurt, but Benn Ferriero scored the game-winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win in Boston in Mitchells place on the left wing.

McLellan has said that he likes Ferreiro on one of the top three scoring lines, rather than the fourth line, so its doubtful that he would dress both.

Palmieri, incidentally, did not receive any further discipline from the league, which is trying to crack down on dangerous head hits.

Palmieri told the Newark Star Ledger he didnt think he made contact with Mitchells head.

"I don't think so. I guess it would depend on the angle from which the ref saw it," Palmieri said. "Maybe it looked like it from his vantage point but on the replay I got to watch last night it looked like the initial point (of impact) was his shoulder. Maybe his head hit me after that."

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