San Jose Sharks: Uncertainty Abounds After Couture’s Latest Injury
By Andrew Bet
Injuries have come at the wrong time for the San Jose Sharks, and the offense may have taken a blow depending on how long Logan Couture will be out after suffering a head injury.
In recent games, the San Jose Sharks have ramped up their offensive production. Over their last ten games, San Jose has gone 6-2-2, fueled by a few come from behind wins — such as a recent home game against Carolina, when they erased a 4-1 deficit to win an overtime thriller.
San Jose turned in perhaps, their best performance of the season with a 5-0 shutout against Ottawa.
The Sharks’ resiliency on offense and Aaron Dell’s performance between the pipes stood out. Offensively, the Sharks put in a complete effort as both even-strength and special teams looked sharp.
As for Dell, his performance solidified him as one of NHL’s best backup goaltenders this season. Dell is 6-3-1 with a .939 save percentage and 1.75 goals against average.
In his last start against Calgary, Dell made a few critical saves to help the Sharks earn a 3-2 victory on the road.
With their recent outburst on offense, San Jose currently sits 24th in the NHL after previously sitting second-to-last in the league.
The power-play and the penalty kill have been pivotal for the Sharks’ recent success presently ranked 10th and 2nd in the league, respectively.
But all three components could face adversity with the team’s current MVP on the shelf.
San Jose Sharks
Logan Couture took a blow to the head in their last game against Vancouver. He was able to skate off the ice but did not return to the game.
San Jose rallied to grab a point but fell in overtime.
Couture not only leads the Sharks with 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists) but plays a significant role on the penalty kill and the power-play.
The level of play Couture has been producing is similar to his playoff performance when the Sharks made it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Injuries are not uncommon for the 28-year-old. Circle back to last season towards the end of the year where Couture took a puck to the mouth. While he showed grit previous season by playing in the playoffs, the pain was evident.
The Sharks cannot afford to have Couture miss significant time. The hope among the team and its fans is that the injury is not severe, as Couture has sustained several head injuries over the course of his career.
He will take the appropriate steps to get himself ready to step back on the ice.
Current players on San Jose’s roster must rise to the occasion, no matter the length of Couture’s absence. Brent Burns is beginning to find his scoring touch after a two-goal performance against the Canucks.
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Joonas Donskoi and Chris Tierney though, are two players who need to fill the void. Donskoi recently returned to the lineup after missing time due to an injury.
His presence was felt in his first game back as he netted the game-winner against Calgary.
Tierney has been out to prove himself since the start of training camp. In recent games, he has generated scoring chances while getting on the scoresheet.
Both Tierney and Donskoi rank second on the team with eight goals each.
Martin Jones has seen a dip in his performance, despite the Sharks earning 14 points from the recent stretch. Jones does not deserve all the blame as San Jose has put themselves in early holes.
Despite the deficits, Jones has come up in big moments to give the Sharks a chance to get back in games.
Los Angeles and Las Vegas currently sit in front of San Jose in the Pacific Division. The Sharks will face the Kings on Saturday in what will surely be a physical affair. A home contest against the Canucks on Thursday night will occur before the clash between California rivals.
Next: San Jose Sharks Still Lacking Offensive Production
Without Couture, the Sharks are not a playoff team. San Jose’s lack of depth will face a test should the forward miss an extended period. But, the Sharks cannot afford to fall behind in the standings.