CSN Bay Area

SAN JOSE – Justin Braun and Tommy Wingels will miss the next several weeks, as each suffered left hand injuries in the Sharks’ game against New Jersey on Jan. 19.

Braun will miss the next four-to-six weeks, while Wingels is hopeful he’ll return in three-to-four.

Braun’s injury came when he blocked a shot by Mike Cammalleri. He continued his shift, but quickly realized there was a problem.

“Saw the shot from the point and tried to punch it away,” he said. “I knew it was bad at that point. Eventually I dropped my stick. I tried to poke-check Marty [Havlat] and [the stick] just popped out of my hand. At that point, I pretty much knew something was pretty bad.”

Braun has the first two fingers of his left hand wrapped.

Wingels has a break in his hand, and underwent a procedure the day after getting hurt. Coincidentally, he was also hurt courtesy of Cammalleri, saying the Devils forward slashed him on a Sharks power play.

“I don’t have an exact time frame. It’s when my hand heals, when I feel comfortable playing with it, and when I can get the strength back that will determine when I feel I’m ready to play. Is that weeks, is it days, I don’t know? But, obviously sooner than later if I can.”

When it was suggested to Wingels that breaks typically take four-to-six weeks to heal, he said: “I’d love to make it three or four.”

The timing is unfortunate for both players in that playing the outdoor game on Feb. 21 at Levi’s Stadium against the Kings is now in doubt.

“If I make it to that, it would be great,” Braun said. “If not, we’ve got a lot of games left and you want to be 100 percent for those. It would be a fun experience, but more importantly, being back and healthy – I don’t want the same thing to happen again if I come back too soon.”

Wingels said: “It’s something I’d like to participate in. That being said, every game you miss is tough. Those opportunities don’t come around a lot. I’m not going to force myself if I’m not ready to play in it, but obviously it’s something I’d like to be back for.”

Both skated on Tuesday morning before the rest of the team went on for practice.