Defenseman Mario Ferraro will miss the Sharks’ final four games with a lower-body injury, further decimating the team’s blue line in the final stages of another challenging year.

Ferraro was injured while the Sharks were killing a penalty late in the second period of Wednesday night’s 8-7 overtime loss in Minnesota.

Standing in front of the Sharks’ net, Ferraro crumpled to the ice after he was struck in the ankle by a hard shot by Matt Boldy just before Joel Eriksson Ek scored the second of his four goals against the Wild.

Ferraro had to be helped off the ice and did not return to the game. Starting today in Edmonton, the Sharks (20-47-11), still in 32nd and last place in the NHL’s overall standings, have six days left in their season.

Ferraro, an alternate captain in his sixth NHL season, led the current Sharks roster in average time on ice (21:24) and shorthanded time on ice per game (2:41). Ferraro has also led the Sharks in blocked shots each of the last five years and had 125 blocks and 17 points in 78 games this season.

“It’s a tough loss for us, as far as what he brings to our group,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said Thursday. “Leadership, the way he competes every night, this is hard on him. He really wanted to play every game this year.”

Ferraro’s injury comes barely a week after Shakir Mukhamadullin also sustained a season-ending upper-body injury in an April 1 game against the Anaheim Ducks.

It’s unclear whether Ferraro or Mukhamadullin will need surgery, although Warsofsky said there could be more clarity on Mukhamadullin in the coming days.

Ferraro and Mukhamadullin had comprised the Sharks’ top defense pair since the March 7 trade deadline. Now the Sharks are scrambling for replacements, although Warsofsky said defensemen Henry Thrun, Jack Thompson, and Timothy Liljegren could see elevated minutes.

Veteran defenseman Jan Rutta, who has been out since late January with a lower-body injury, is nearing a return. The Sharks are hopeful Rutta can play on this trip that continues with games in Calgary on Sunday and Vancouver on Monday. It was unclear whether he would be available against the Oilers.

Warsofsky said Vincent Desharnais (upper body) will not be able to return before Rutta. If Rutta cannot play tonight, the Sharks would need to recall a defenseman from the Barracuda.

While the banged-up Sharks are on a seven-game losing streak, the Oilers welcomed Connor McDavid back into their lineup on Wednesday after he missed eight straight games with a lower-body injury. McDavid had three assists in Edmonton’s 4-3 win over the St. Louis Blues.