For the first time in 319 games, the San Jose Sharks had to play without Joe Thornton on Saturday and they suffered a 7-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues. They’ll have to bounce back without the star forward and their former captain though as Thornton has been placed on the injured reserve list.
The move is presumably retroactive to Dec. 31, but that still rules Thornton out for Monday and Tuesday’s contests. Sharks coach Todd McLellan previously described Thornton as day-to-day and an earlier report from the San Jose Mercury News suggested that it’s Thornton’s shoulder that’s bothering him.
Thornton has nine goals and 33 points in 38 contests in 2014-15. The 35-year-old hasn’t recorded fewer than 70 points in a non-lockout season since he had 68 points in 66 contests in 2001-2002.
San Jose also announced that they have called up forward Micheal Haley.