San Jose Sharks: Thornton’s Injury Could Make or Break Season

The San Jose Sharks will be without Joe Thornton after suffering an injury in the game against the Winnipeg Jets.

After coming off the NHL-mandated bye week, the San Jose Sharks are playing their best hockey of the season. A 5-1-1 mark since the break has put the Sharks in second place in the Pacific Division with Las Vegas leading the way.

Wins against Los Angeles and Pittsburgh stand out from the past games. In a rematch of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, San Jose displayed a gutsy performance against Pittsburgh, showing signs, the team could compete in the playoffs.

In Los Angeles, the Sharks got off to a strong start and never let up in a 4-1 victory over their Southern California rivals. The Kings have been falling in the standings after a surprising start and now are on the outside of the playoff picture.

San Jose Sharks

San Jose has a few games in hand amongst teams in the Pacific but now will be facing some adversity. Late in the third period, Mikkel Boedker was hit by a player from the Jets and went into the back of Thornton’s right leg.

Thornton immediately went to the locker room and did not return.

Winnipeg came out with a 5-4 overtime victory against San Jose. The Sharks are fortunate to have got the point after trailing 3-0 in the first period.

Thornton’s injury did not look good as he was seen in discomfort trying to get off the ice. Shark’s general manager, Doug Wilson, announced Thornton would be out several weeks with an MCL injury to his right knee.

The injury comes at an inopportune time as Thornton has been playing some of his best hockey this season. Thornton is second on the team in points with 36.

Toughness and commitment can never come into question with Thornton. Last season, he injured his left knee before the end of the regular season. He came back to play against Edmonton in the playoffs and Thornton was playing on one knee.

But as of right now, the Sharks will be entering a critical stretch after the All-Star break. Central Division opponents on the road highlight the month of February for San Jose. As of now, the Western Conference could likely have a team from that division be in the final with the way the teams are playing.

The Sharks cannot afford another repeat of last season, where the month of March saw the team limp into the postseason. San Jose slipped out of first place in the Pacific, falling to third place.

A sigh of relief can only be brief since Thornton will be back in the lineup at some point. For now, an uphill battle begins for the current players to fill the void about to be left from Thornton’s absence.

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Optimism for the Sharks to not fall out of the playoff picture can be found from the recent play of a few players.

Timo Meier appears to have turned a corner, solidifying him in being a mainstay in the NHL. Meier got the game-tying goal in the third period to help the Sharks gain a point in the standings against the Jets. The goal was his 11th of the season as his game has improved since December.

Boedker appears to have found a home on the third line with Joonas Donskoi and Chris Tierney. The speed of all three has created numerous scoring chances, and has been one of San Jose’s most effective lines in recent games. He netted two goals in Anaheim and has 15 points on the year.

Perhaps the most significant need will be the goaltending by Martin Jones and Aaron Dell in the wake of Thornton’s injury. Jones has not seen any action after a minor injury has kept him from making starts. In his past starts, Jones has not shown the reliable backstopping he is known for, and his injury is the likely cause.

Dell has been a big factor in where the Sharks currently sit in the standings. He will likely get more starts to rest Jones as he has earned the right to play.

After Thursday’s contest at home against the New York Rangers, the All-Star break begins. San Jose will start a five-game road trip with back-to-back games against Pittsburgh and Detroit. Jones will likely be back and probably get the start against the Red Wings.

Next: San Jose Sharks: Decisions Looming After Bye Week

One player does not define a team. San Jose has all the weapons necessary to trend in an upward direction and play good hockey. The hope is the Sharks will still be in the playoff discussion when Thornton comes back.