San Jose Sharks concerned that centerman might have to miss time

SAN JOSE – Center Nico Sturm might have to miss some time after he was injured in the San Jose Sharks game against the Winnipeg Jets at SAP Center.

Coach David Quinn said Wednesday that Sturm was being evaluated, adding that while the team would know more later in the day, there is concern that the German-born forward will have to go on injured reserve and sit for an undetermined amount of games.

Sturm was injured in the third period of the Sharks’ 2-1 win over the Jets on Tuesday, as he appeared to fall awkwardly after a collision with a Winnipeg player just inside San Jose’s blue line.

Sturm immediately left the ice and remained on the Sharks bench as he was being tended to by a team trainer. He did not play the rest of the game as the Sharks went on to win for the fourth time in six games.

Sturm, the Sharks’ third line center for most of the season, has just four points in 25 games, but has established himself as one of the team’s better penalty killers and leaders in the faceoff circle.

Sturm has had to miss three games this season, two last month against Seattle and Vancouver for personal reasons and one this month against the New York Rangers when he was hurt in pregame warmups. The Sharks lost all three games.

If Sturm has to go on IR, the Sharks could thrust the recently activated Luke Kunin into that role. Injured center Ryan Carpenter is also ready to return, Quinn said, after he missed the last four games.

The Sharks entered Wednesday in seventh place in the Pacific Division, as their recent success had them within seven points of a playoff spot, compared to 12 points back a month ago.

The Sharks go on the road to face the Arizona Coyotes on Friday and the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.

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