Sharks’ Logan Couture takes another step toward return

SAN JOSE — Logan Couture has been encouraged by what he’s seen from his teammates in recent weeks as he works his way back from a fractured bone in his left ankle and the Sharks hope to re-enter the Western Conference playoff picture.

When Couture was hurt Jan. 7 in a game against the St. Louis Blues, it was feared the Sharks might plunge even further in the standings without their leading scorer and top line center for approximately six weeks.

Those problems were exacerbated when Tomas Hertl was lost for the season after he suffered torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee Jan. 29 game against the Vancouver Canucks. Couture led the Sharks with 36 points at the time of his injury and Hertl also had 36 points when he was hurt, one point back of team leader Erik Karlsson.

But the Sharks have at least stayed afloat, as they improved to 5-5-0 without Couture and 2-1-0 without Hertl with wins over Calgary and Edmonton this week.

While the Sharks (24-27-4) entered Saturday in 13th place in the conference, they’re still eight points out of a playoff spot, same as they were the morning of Jan. 8.

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“Into two buildings that are tough to play in, two teams that are fighting for their playoff lives,” Couture said of the Sharks’ wins in Alberta. “We went in there and you take away the first five minutes of each game, and I thought we controlled both of those games pretty well.

“Positives, I think we’re playing better defensively, tighter defensively. It’s fun to see.”

Couture and fellow injured centerman Joel Kellman both had a conditioning skate without pucks Saturday afternoon after the Sharks went through a 45-minute practice.

It was the second time Couture had skated since his injury. Couture said his walking boot was removed about five days ago and he skated while the Sharks were on the road. He said he might skate again Sunday.

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“It’s nice to have them back,” Couture said of his teammates. “It gets lonely when they’re on the road. Thankfully, but not thankfully, I’ve had (Kellman) with me the last little while.”

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“It was good to see him. We were bugging him to get upstairs and get on the bike already and to get moving,” Couture said with a smile. “He’s in good spirits and still smiling, so it’s good to have someone like that around that keep everything light, even though he’s going through some tough circumstances right now.”

In the absence of Couture and Hertl, interim coach Bob Boughner moved Barclay Goodrow to the top line to play center. Joe Thornton is the second-line center and rookies Alexander True and Maxim Letunov are on the third and fourth lines, respectively.

Both True and Letunov made the NHL debuts Tuesday in the Sharks’ 3-1 win over the Flames, then each recorded their first NHL point two days later. Letunov scored his first goal and True had his first assist in the Sharks’ 6-3 win over the Oilers. Thornton had four assists in the two victories.

“When you get young kids to come into new buildings and their first time playing in the NHL, it adds an excitement to everyone in the room,” Couture said. “It excites the guys that have been here for 20 years like (Thornton). You feed off that energy and it looked like guys certainly did that on the road.”

Boughner did not have a timeline for Couture’s potential return, saying, “I don’t think (the bone) probably completely healed, so that’s just going to be whenever the scans and everything show that it’s completely healed. Then he’s got to hit practice and get back in shape.”

“It’s tough watching, but at the same time, I think I’m pretty good at knowing my body and when it’s not ready,” Couture said. “When it’s ready and I feel 100 percent, I’ll be back.”

Kellman suffered a lower body injury Feb. 1. Boughner thought Kellman would be able return to practice in the next few days. The Sharks play at home against the Flames on Monday before they travel to play Winnipeg and Minnesota on Feb. 14 and 15, respectively.

▪ Patrick Marleau, feeling under the weather, stayed off the ice Saturday. Dylan Gambrell skated in Marleau’s place on the top Sharks’ top line in practice. With just 11 available forwards after Antti Suomela was sent to the Barracuda, defenseman Tim Heed skated on the fourth line with Letunov and Marcus Sorensen.

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