Couture OK after ‘scary’ hit by L.A. Kings’ Carter
Sharks captain Logan Couture admitted there were a few moments where he was concerned about his health after a violent hit he absorbed from Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Carter and his stick earlier this week left him flat on his back in the middle of the SAP Center ice.
“He kind of caught me with his butt end in the jaw and my neck and back just locked up on me,” Couture said Friday morning of Carter and his hit. “It was kind of scary at first on the ice. I couldn’t really move my neck but took a few seconds and I was able to move.”
Couture was back in the lineup Friday night as the Sharks began a twogame series with the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz. The two teams play again tonight, with the seventhplace Sharks trying to gain ground in the West Division.
Couture had the puck near center ice, and right after he shot it into the Kings’ zone, was knocked down by Carter’s hit. Couture remained on the ice for several seconds before he got up and skated off under his own power, leaving with 2:55 left in regulation time. Carter was given a minor
penalty for high sticking. The Sharks won the game 4-2.
Couture said he was examined by Sharks head athletic trainer Ray Tufts after the game. “It wasn’t my head, it was just my neck was really stiff,” Couture said. “It still is right now. But I figured I’d be OK.”
Sharks coach Bob Boughner said he didn’t feel Carter’s hit, which took place late in the third period of Wednesday’s game at SAP Center, warranted any supplemental action from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
“(Carter’s) been around for a while and he’s not known to be a dirty player by any means,” Boughner said. “I think it was more of the stick getting up in that situation. I don’t think it was a message being sent or anything like that, it was just a collision at center ice.
“It’s definitely a penalty. I’m not sure if it should be more than just two minutes, that’s not my decision, of course. The stick did get high, but no, I don’t think it was intentional.”
SEASON DEBUT >> Assistant coach John Madden joined Boughner behind the
Sharks’ bench Friday for the first time this season. Madden, a Canadian citizen, had been held up by green card issues, which limited what he could do while he was with the team.
Sharks development coach Mike Ricci had been filling in for Madden behind the bench.
Madden and Rocky Thompson were announced as Sharks assistant coaches in September when Boughner officially became the full-time coach. Ricci will go back up to the press box to be an eye in the sky for the Sharks.
Madden won the Stanley Cup three times as a member of the New Jersey Devils and also won the Selke Trophy in 2001 as the NHL’s best defensive forward.
“He’s been waiting a long time for it. Obviously, he feels bad about the situation,” Boughner said of Madden. “(Ricci) has done a great job for us back there. Johnny will come back on the bench like the original plan was, and it’s going to help me as well. It’s going to give the players a little bit of a different look, too, which I think is going to be exciting.”
INJURY UPDATE >> Forward Matt Nieto made the trip to Arizona missed his fourth straight game with a lowerbody injury. Boughner said Nieto skated again Friday and thought there was an “outside” chance he could play tonight, although it is more likely that he returns Monday when the Sharks play the Minnesota Wild in San Jose.