Sharks waste Couture’s hat trick in loss to Islanders
Offensive surge credited to Hertl’s move to left wing
Logan Couture notched his second-career hat trick in a losing effort as the Sharks failed to hop above the .500 mark for the first time this season.
After recording wins over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday and the New Jersey Devils on Friday, the Sharks’ (3-4) stab at a perfect week fell short in Brooklyn on Saturday as the team lost its second game to the New York Islanders this season.
Here’s what we learned in the Sharks’ 5-3 loss at the Barclays Center:
1. COUTURE CREDITS TOMAS HERTL FOR FILLING THE PATRICK MARLEAU VOID>>
Sharks coach Pete DeBoer didn’t waste any time taking matters into his own hands to fill the void in his top-six forward group left by Patrick Marleau’s departure to the Toronto Maple Leafs over the summer.
After the Sharks fell to 0-2, DeBoer suspended the Tomas-Hertl-at-center project, sliding him up to Logan Couture’s left wing on the second line, a position held down by Marleau for a large chunk of the past five-plus seasons.
The move is paying off for Couture, who recorded a four-point night Tuesday before notching three goals against the Islanders on Saturday night, giving him seven points (five goals, two assists) in five games since DeBoer made the switch.
Couture didn’t hesitate to draw a line between Hertl’s addition to the line and his recent-offensive surge.
“He’s big. He’s strong. He’s skilled. He reminds me of Patty without that topend speed the way he holds onto pucks,” the Sharks alternate captain said. “He’s very, very easy to play with. I’ve enjoyed it, so hopefully we can continue to play together.”
Although Hertl is a big power forward and Marleau is a swift-skating wingman, Couture sees a lot of parallels between the two players.
“Those guys are very strong guys,” he said. “When they get the puck in the corner, Patty and him, I try to create some room and get open. They’re both very good passers.
“Hertl is very underrated as a passer.”
2. PUCK LUCK IS INEVITABLE WITH BURNS, DEFENSEMEN >>
Brent Burns produced another eight shots on goal and 14 shot attempts Saturday, but he’s still looking for his first goal of the season through seven games after notching 29 last year.
He also set up two of Couture’s goals with his shot. Couture notched his first goal at 6:26 of the second, redirecting a Burns shot pass from the high-slot area. He recorded his third with 1:52 left in the third, stuffing the puck in from the doorstep after Burns’ shot trickled its way through traffic.
Despite the goose egg on the scoresheet, Burns leads the Sharks in shots on goal with 31 on the season, 10 more than Joe Pavelski, who ranks second. His 31 shots are also good for 10th in the league.
“I’m not worried about it at all,” DeBoer said. “He’s getting some really good looks. They’re going to go in eventually. We’re only seven games in.”
But don’t forget, Burns also scored only two goals over the final 23 games of the 2016-17 season, giving him just two goals over his past 30 regular-season games.
Captain Joe Pavelski said there’s a natural ebb and flow to a defenseman’s goal scoring because of the nature of the position.
“There’s going to be (goalless) stretches, even more so with defensemen when you’re shooting from that far out,” he said. “Goalies are good. You need a little (puck luck), find a seam, find a screen. But he’s jumped up in the play, made some good reads.”
Although Burns is responding to questions about his drought with nonchalance, Couture that the reigning Norris Trophy winner is likely feeling
some frustration.
“He wants to score and I’m sure he feels some pressure from the numbers he put up last year,” Couture said. “But he made some great looks and the puck’s eventually going to start to go in for him.” 3. JOE THORNTON RECEIVES A GET-OUT-OF-JAIL-FREE CARD
>> The scoresheet credits Thornton with two points Saturday. He probably deserved three.
Thornton set up the Islanders’ second goal 8:31 of the second, sending Josh Bailey in on a breakaway by putting the puck on the tape of his stick in the high slot with a careless pass from the side boards.
It’s the type of play that would get the defensiveminded DeBoer quite red in the face if it came from a rookie, but Thornton has earned a get-out-of-jail-free card or two over the course of his career.
“There’s a guy that handles the puck as much or more than anyone in the league on his stick,” DeBoer said. “You’re going to make some mistakes here and there, so I’m not worried about that.”