Pregame Preview #46: The Captain Returns As Sharks Host Ducks
The San Jose Sharks are getting their captain Logan Couture and Nico Sturm back from injury as they take on the Anaheim Ducks tonight.
Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports - Pregame Preview #46: The Captain Returns As Sharks Host DucksThe San Jose Sharks (10-31-4) are getting their captain Logan Couture and Nico Sturm back from injury as they take on the Anaheim Ducks (15-28-1) tonight.
Head coach David Quinn confirmed the return of both players after yesterday's practice.
"I did a lot of work to get back to where I am right now," Couture said. "I'm sure I'll be pretty emotional when come back to play."
Couture and Sturm could be seen as the two biggest impact players San Jose has gotten back from injury this season. Both players will play key role on the penalty kill, a stat that the Sharks are in dead last with a 71.4%.
Couture will also be a key contributor to the offense both five-on-five and the man advantage. In practice yesterday he ran the point of the No. 1 powerplay unit.
The return of Couture and Sturm does come at a cost. Mikael Granlund will miss the next three games according to Quinn. Quinn emphasized that the Sharks dodged a bullet with Granlund's upper-body injury.
"I think we dodged a bullet," Quinn said.
The bench boss also confirmed that sugurey isn't on the table for Granlund.
As for tonight's lineup Quinn confirmed Mackenzie Blackwood will start. He also confirmed that Scott Sabourin and Kevin Labanc will be scratched along with Calen Addison.
Sharks projected line combinations:
Eklund-Couture-Barabanov
Zetterlund-Hertl-Zadina
Kunin-Sturm-Hoffman
Bailey-Carpenter-Duclair
Vlasic-Ferraro
Thrun-Rutta
Okhotiuk-Burroughs
Blackwood
Kahkonen
Puck drop is at 7 p.m. and can be seen on NBC Sports California or the Sharks Audio Network.
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