The injury bug is moving through the New Jersey Devils.
Before the season, they lost center Travis Zajac to an Achillies injury. Then, just over a week ago, Martin Brodeur went down with a shoulder injury.
Jacob Josefson joined that list last night.
The second-year center fractured his right clavicle in the first period of last night's 4-3 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks. He underwent surgery today and will miss three to four months. The team already called up Adam Henrique, who was sent down to Albany eight days ago. The center had no points in two games for the Devils, and recorded one assist in three games with Albany.
The Devils aren't the only team struggling with injuries. They face off against a Pittsburgh Penguins team tonight missing both Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby.
Crosby, who hasn't played since last season, was recently cleared for contact during practice. The organization hasn't given a timetable of when he could return.
Malkin continues to sit with soreness in his right knee. Last season, Malkin tore both his ACL and MCL in that knee.
Both teams sit atop the Atlantic Division early in the season. The Devils rebounded from their opening night loss to Philadelphia, going 3-0-1 in their last four games. After winning two straight shootout games, the Sharks beat the Devils in a shootout last night. New Jersey staked themselves to a 2-0 lead with goals from Patrik Elias and Zach Parise. But that lead would quickly dissolve, as Joe Thornton and Ryan Clowe scored almost a minute apart to tie the game after two periods.
Despite being outshot through two periods, New Jersey still had a chance to win the game. David Clarkson scored with seven minutes left in regulation to put the Devils ahead, 3-2. Joe Pavelski scored with just 36 seconds left in regulation to even the score. Ilya Kovalchuk beat Antti Niemi in the first round of the shootout, but Michael Handzus and Ryan Clowe would score to give the Sharks the victory.
Johan Hedberg made 38 saves in his first loss of the season.
The Penguins rebounded from a three-game losing streak, winning their last two road games. They defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 3-1, Thursday night at the Bell Centre. James Neal, Joe Vitale and Arron Asham all scored for the Penguins, who never trailed in the game. Theo Fleury stopped 27 shots in the win.
Steve Sullivan will suit up for his 900th NHL game. The left-winger began his career as a Devil, tallying 31 points in 49 games before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.