Senators' Pinto exits after crashing into boards

Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto was ruled out for the remainder of Thursday's game against the San Jose Sharks after suffering an upper-body injury in the first period, the team announced.

Pinto crashed hard into the boards after taking a hit from Mario Ferraro on his first shift.

Senators head coach D.J. Smith said postgame that there doesn't appear to be any structural damage, per The Athletic's Ian Mendes.

The 20-year-old returned for the start of the second period but played just one more shift before exiting again. He was the recipient of a slash and appeared to be laboring.

Pinto entered Thursday with one assist in three games while averaging 19:82 per contest - the second-highest average time on ice among Senators forwards.

Ottawa is already without center Colin White until at least February, so the team's depth down the middle will be tested even further if Pinto is forced to miss any time.

The Senators selected Pinto 32nd overall in the 2019 draft.