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Logan Couture News

Couture (hand) expected to be back in the lineup on Thursday.

Couture confirmed that only an unexpected occurrence would keep him out of the Sharks’ next game, on Thursday against the Flyers. Couture missed the last 16 games with a right hand injury, and he still wraps it for practice. He hurt himself on December 19 in Los Angeles, played through it for nearly three weeks, and eventually had surgery on January 8. “I’m ready to go in three or four days, whatever it is. Feels good as its felt in three months,” he said. Couture has 14 goals, 21 assists (35 points) and a plus-13 rating in 43 games this season.

Logan Couture
Couture is "close" after undergoing surgery on his hand in early January.

“He was shooting the puck very well. Better than he has been over the last week," said Sharks head coach Todd McLellan. "That just shows progress. His legs and lungs have been maintained very well. I think when he finally gets the go-ahead to really get involved the conditioning will come quick. The timing will take a couple games, but is he on pace to play before the Olympic break? I sure hope so, but I can’t answer that definitively.” Couture will miss his 10th straight game tonight.

Logan Couture
Couture will undergo surgery on his hand, he is out 3-4 weeks.

This is a bad break for the Sharks, but it was revealed that Couture had been playing with the injury for a while now. It didn't appear to hurt his play too much as he was riding a five-game point streak (4G / 1A) after Monday. He was not selected to Team Canada.

Logan Couture
Couture on skating this morning and being a game time decision: "I didn't feel that bad so there's a chance I can play."

Couture didn't take part in line rushes making him questionable in tonight's game. In his sophomore season, the 22-year-old scored 27 goals and 52 points.

Logan Couture
*****No update on Logan Couture’s injury. He was on the receiving end of three hard hits Sunday night, the last coming at 2:24 of the third period and delivered by Greg Zanon. Couture didn’t skate a shift after that because of a lower body injury, but I’ve got nothing more specific.

No word on how long the Sharks lost their leading scorer. In his sophomore season, the 22-year-old scored 27 goals and 52 points.

Logan Couture
Logan Couture was back with Ryane Clowe and Marty Havlat at practice on Wednesday

Couture moves back onto the second line, where he first started the season. The Calder Trophy finalist is enjoying an excellent sophomore season with seven goals and 15 points through 21 games.

Logan Couture
That leaves Joe Thornton centering Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture on what probably ends up being the top line, though it’s hard to say at this point which will get the most minutes.

Couture moves up a line to play alongside Thornton and Pavelski. The sophomore scored four goals and seven points over his first 11 games with the Sharks.

Logan Couture