Thornton out several weeks with MCL injury

The San Jose Sharks' path to securing a playoff spot just got considerably more difficult, as star centerman Joe Thornton will miss several weeks with an injury to his right MCL, general manager Doug Wilson announced Wednesday.

Wilson says the club is awaiting the results of an MRI to determine whether surgery is necessary, according to Kevin Kurz of The Athletic.

Thornton got tangled with teammate Mikkel Boedker late in Tuesday's contest versus the Winnipeg Jets and was forced out of the game.

The 38-year-old injured his other knee late last season, and played in the club's first-round playoff series versus the Edmonton Oilers with tears in his ACL and MCL.

The Sharks currently sit second in the Pacific Division with 59 points, but maintaining that pace without Thornton will be difficult - he's second on the team with 36 points in 47 games.