Thornton: Playing without crowd 'would definitely be a weird feeling'

One day after Santa Clara County implemented a three-week ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 attendees due to coronavirus concerns, multiple San Jose Sharks players were asked about the possibility of playing their home games without a crowd.

"It would definitely be a weird feeling if that happens," forward Joe Thornton told reporters "What's going right now, it's weird for everybody. So I think we're all confused like you guys are."

"It would definitely be very strange," Evander Kane said.

The Sharks are set to embark on a three-game road trip beginning Wednesday in Chicago. They'll return home March 19 for a tilt versus the Montreal Canadiens before two more contests at SAP Center on March 21 and March 29.

San Jose could opt to play at a neutral site or postpone the games if it elects not to host in an empty rink, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.

Santa Clara County reported Monday its first death due to the coronavirus, and cases in the area continue to rise.

All active major North American sports leagues (NHL, MLB, MLS, NBA) released a joint statement Monday restricting media access within locker rooms to help prevent the spreading of the virus.

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