Joe Thornton set to return after 9-game absence

The San Jose Sharks will welcome Joe Thornton back into their lineup on Tuesday night versus the New York Rangers, the team announced.

Thornton has missed the last nine contests after experiencing swelling in his surgically-repaired right knee. He was on the ice for the club's first two games of the season, but then the veteran was placed on injured reserve.

Knee injuries have slowed the 39-year-old for much of the last year. Thornton sat out of the Sharks' final 35 games of the 2017-18 season and their playoff run after tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee, nine months after suffering the same injury in his left knee.

Limited action has caused Thornton to collect just one assist so far in 2018-19, but he's inching toward two major career milestones. With five more games played and three more goals, he'll reach 1,500 and 400, respectively, for his career.