Preview/Lines #48: Ferraro ‘Out For a Little Bit’ With Lower-Body Injury

The San Jose Sharks are hoping that they won’t be missing a big piece for a while.

Yesterday, Mario Ferraro got tangled up with Trevor Lewis near the boards in the second period of their 4-3 shootout victory over the Los Angeles Kings, leaving the game with a lower-body injury. Educated guess, based on the replay, that’s an ankle injury.

Mario Ferraro went to the dressing room after taking this hit along the boards pic.twitter.com/jZK6nHXUf0

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) January 23, 2024

And even though Ferraro did try to skate before the third period, he was quickly ruled out. Then, head coach David Quinn was quick to mention post-game that he expected Ferraro to miss a couple games.

It will probably be more than that.

“He’s gonna be out for a little bit,” Quinn said. “Don’t have a timeline yet.”

The bench boss, however, did not rule out a Ferraro return before the All-Star break, saying of the injury: “We’re pretty confident it’s nothing serious and he won’t be out for an extended period of time.”

Between now and the All-Star break, the San Jose Sharks have four games, starting tonight against the Rangers and ending on Jan. 31 versus the Anaheim Ducks.

That said, Ferraro is still awaiting further evaluation, which should provide a more exact timeline for his return.

It could be advantageous for the Sharks and Ferraro to hold him off until Feb. 14, when they return from their All-Star and bye weeks.

Based on last night’s usage after Ferraro went down, Henry Thrun and Jan Rutta will get first crack at the minutes. Both led the San Jose Sharks yesterday, clearing over 25 minutes.

But there’s no replacing the effervescent, minutes-munching Ferraro, at least not on this team.

“He’s our best defenseman. He’s clearly our best defenseman,” Quinn said. “So, it hurts. It hurts. But it’s an opportunity for other guys and everybody’s gotta be a little bit better.”

Winger Scott Sabourin was sent down today, so it’s likely that the Sharks will call up a seventh defenseman in the absence of Ferraro. Quinn, however, was coy about who the big club might recall.

Tonight, Calen Addison will draw into the line-up for Ferraro.

Addison says he's never played with anybody with a personality like Ferraro's, even with and before the Wild: "Not even close."

Ferraro will be missed, however long he's injured.

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 23, 2024

San Jose Sharks (12-31-4)

Mackenzie Blackwood will start. Addison in for Ferraro. No known changes up front, though that’s not confirmed.

Quinn says of all the guys on IR, MacDonald most likely to return before the break. Emberson not so much. Granlund unlikely, per Quinn, but not ruled out

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 23, 2024

Quinn, on playing Granlund before the break: "Makes no sense…got an opportunity to get 3 full weeks without missing any hockey games…So unless he's begging me & telling me I'm 100 % fine, I don't see the point of it."

As I reported here this morning: https://t.co/WiDTg4alJn

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 23, 2024

New York Rangers (29-15-2)

Igor Shesterkin will get the start.

#NYR morning skate lineup. Looks like right back to how they started in Anaheim:

Kreider – Zib – Kakko
Panarin – Trocheck – Laf
Cuylle – Brodz – Wheeler
Goodrow – Bonino – Vesey

Lindgren – Fox
Miller – Trouba
Gus – Schneider

— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) January 23, 2024

Where to Watch

Puck drop between the San Jose Sharks and New York Rangers is 7:30 PM PT at SAP Center. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.