Sharks’ Couture skates for third straight day, but not Thornton

SAN JOSE — Sharks center Logan Couture participated in an optional practice Friday and said it felt good to be skating for a third straight day but still does not know when he’ll be able to play again.

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After plea from HDA and Evander Kane, NHL postpones Thursday and Friday games There was no contact during the optional skate, which saw roughly half of the Sharks’ roster on the ice. Couture, who took a puck to his mouth March 25 in a game against Nashville, said he did not know when he might be able to take contact.

Joe Thornton, recovering from a left knee injury, did not skate during the optional practice.

“There wasn’t much for me to do out there,” Couture said. “Out with a few guys. But it was good to get back on the ice. Three days in a row and go for four tomorrow.”

Couture was wearing a facial cage for Friday’s practice instead of the visor and mouth guard he had Thursday.

“Just trying something different,” Couture said, adding that he was going to visit the dentist again Friday.

The Sharks are scheduled to have another morning skate Saturday before their final regular season game that night against the Calgary Flames. It isn’t known yet if the Sharks will practice on Sunday.

The Sharks, in all likelihood, will have at least two more practices next week before the start of the playoffs next Wednesday or Thursday.

Chances are the Sharks, who are in third place in the Pacific Division with 97 points, two points back of Edmonton, will start the postseason on the road against the Oilers.

To finish in second place in the division, the Sharks have to beat Calgary on Saturday, then hope the Oilers lose twice to Vancouver in regulation time to close the regular season. The Oilers and Canucks play in Vancouver on Saturday and in Edmonton on Sunday.

The Sharks’ 4-2 loss to the Oilers on Thursday at SAP Center all but sealed their fate for the first round, and it was evident how much they missed Couture’s work on special teams.

The Sharks were 0-for-4 with the man advantage and gave up two power play goals, both to Milan Lucic, who had a natural hat trick in the third period.

“We were OK, special teams wasn’t good,” Couture said. “Power play was struggling. (Penalty kill) gave up two, some tap-in goals in front of our net.

“It sucks. I’ve said the multiple times. I’ve watched too much hockey the last few years and it’s not fun.”

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