San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks after undergoing surgery Sunday to repair a fracture in his lower left fibula, the team announced.

The 23-year-old blue-liner suffered the injury during the second period of Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins.

While in pursuit of the puck in Boston's zone, Bruins forward Taylor Hall pushed Ferraro, causing him to slide feet first into the boards. Ferraro needed to be helped off the ice and didn't return to the game.

Hall received an interference penalty on the play.

Ferraro's absence is yet another major blow to the Sharks' ailing defense corps. San Jose is already without Erik Karlsson and Jaycob Megna.

Ferraro has averaged 23:19 of ice time per game this season, trailing only Brent Burns for the team lead. He has two goals and nine assists in 48 games and leads San Jose with 101 hits and 127 blocks.

The Sharks are currently out of a playoff spot. They sit in seventh place in the Pacific Division with a 23-23-6 record.

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