Sharks hope defenseman Jacob Middleton won't miss remainder of season

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The Sharks' blue line took another hit with the news that Jacob Middleton will miss time with a lower body injury that he sustain Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Sharks interim head coach Bob Boughner told the media Monday that the defenseman is considered "week-to-week."

But with five weeks left in the regular season, Boughner isn't so sure Middleton will be able to return during the final 17 games.

“There’s no promises there because it’s week-to-week,” Boughner said, according to The Mercury News' Curtis Pashelka. “I’d like to think he’d probably be back before the end of the season, yes.”

With Erik Karlsson out for the season and Brenden Dillon traded to the Washington Capitals, Middleton finally was getting a chance to play consistently.

After appearing in four games over the first three months of the season, the 24-year-old played in the last six games for the Sharks. During the six-game span, he has registered two assists.

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Middleton's injury occurred during the third period against the Penguins. Middleton got tangled up with Pittsburgh forward Patric Hornqvist and had his legs bent in an awkward way.

Middleton is someone the Sharks want to take an extended look at, so the team is hopeful that he can return at some point over the next five weeks.

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