Sharks’ Logan Couture injured by hit from Kings’ Jeff Carter,
SAN JOSE >> Logan Couture was injured in the third period of the Sharks’ win over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday at SAP Center.
Couture had just released the puck in the neutral zone when he was leveled by a hit from Kings forward Jeff Carter. Couture, who did not appear to see the hit coming, remained on the ice for several seconds before he got up and skated off the ice under his own power with 2:55 left in the third period.
The Sharks did not specify where Couture was injured but Carter’s hit appeared to catch him up high.
“He’s still pretty shaken up,” Boughner said of Couture, “we’ve got our trainers looking at him.”
Couture was unavailable to speak with reporters after Wednesday’s game, which the Sharks won 4-2. Couture mentioned to Boughner after the game that he might have been caught by the butt end of Carter’s stick. Carter was assessed a twominute minor for high sticking.
Boughner said he didn’t get a good look at the hit when it happened but watched it later on replay.
“It looked a little high to me. It looked like it could have possibly been the butt end come up, that’s what (Couture) was saying,” Boughner said. “So I guess we’ll let the league look at it and let them see what they think.”
Couture had just over 18 minutes of ice time Wednesday as the Sharks swept the two-game series with the Kings to move seven points back of the St. Louis Blues for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West Division.
The Sharks (13-14-4) leave for Arizona on Thursday and will play the Coyotes on Friday and Saturday.
Couture has played in all 30 Sharks games this season and has 14 goals and nine assists. He didn’t have a point Wednesday but as San Jose’s No. 1 center, helped the Sharks keep Kings center Anze Kopitar off the scoresheet for two straight games. Kopitar has a team-leading 37 points in 32 games this season.
“Hopefully, he’s OK. He looked OK in the room, which is a good sign,” said Sharks winger Evander Kane, who scored two goals Wednesday. “Hopefully he’s ready to go Friday.”