Sharks’ Couture at his best for playoff push

Logan Couture has that certain gleam in his eyes.

Playoff hockey is his favorite time of the year. Christmas is in May. A birthday every day. Let the good times roll.

“This is the best time to play hockey,” Couture said. “It’s the best hockey to play. I have the most fun when it’s playoff time.”

The Sharks’ versatile forward has parlayed the fun he’s having into a significant contribution. With 13 points in 10 games, Couture is second in the league in playoff scoring. His four goals and seven points against the Predators have the Sharks one win away from the conference finals as Nashville hosts Game 6 on Monday.

That same gleam was missing from Couture’s eyes earlier in the season, and for good reason.

Named an alternate captain for the first time, Couture fractured his right fibula at the ankle when he skated into a rut during practice on Oct. 15 in New Jersey after the Sharks were off to a 3-0 start. San Jose went 11-12-0 without Couture, who underwent surgery and rehab before returning on Dec.8.

But midway through his second game back, Couture absorbed a hit to his right thigh that knocked him out of a Dec. 9 game at Edmonton. On the return flight to San Jose, trainers noticed unusual swelling. Couture needed another surgery, this time to repair a small arterial bleed unrelated to his earlier injury.

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The Sharks went 3-3-1 in the subsequent seven games Couture missed. Finally, on Dec. 30 at home versus Philadelphia, Couture was back for good. He scored his first goal of the season nine nights later as the Sharks went 29-14-4 with the 27-year-old in the lineup for the final 47 regular-season games.

As frustrating as it was for Couture to sit out, his absence prompted DeBoer to experiment with personnel and line combinations to plug the second-line hole. The silver lining was the new Sharks coach got to know the organization’s players. He applied what he learned as he tinkered with the lineup for Saturday’s pivotal Game 5.

DeBoer added speedy Patrick Marleau to left wing alongside Couture and rookie right wing Joonas Donskoi, who has developed strong chemistry with Couture since midseason. The move paid off as the line contributed two goals and five points to San Jose’s 5-1 dismantling of Nashville.

“It was Patty’s best game of the series, and that line was excellent all night,” DeBoer said Saturday. “Some changes work. Tonight that change worked.”

After Marleau scored his 63rd goal in 157 career playoff games for an early 1-0 lead, Couture’s breakaway strike 35 seconds into the middle period gave the Sharks a spirit-breaking 3-1 advantage over the visiting Preds.

Nashville has seen Couture score a number of key goals in the series. He potted what counted as the winner in Game 1, a power-play goal at 15:40 of the third period that preceded his empty-netter nearly three minutes later.

Couture scored the first goal of Game 2 and provided the primary assist on Joe Thornton’s winner late. Couture assisted two of San Jose’s three goals during the triple-OT loss in Game 4.

His lone goal in the first round against rival Los Angeles was the winner in Game 2, and Couture had three assists in the Game 5 clincher against the Kings.

“We were talking about training camp, how our dressing room was getting made over, and that seems like forever ago,” said Couture, who has 23 goals and 49 points in 66 career playoff games. “The season has been a long one. But it’s nice to be in this spot.”

Typical of hockey players, Couture deflects attention. His 13 playoff points are second only to Jamie Benn’s 14 for Dallas. Couture is tied with Sharks defenseman Brent Burns and Tampa Bay’s Tyler Johnson, while captain Joe Pavelski is one back with 12 as San Jose boasts three of the league’s top five scorers.

“That’s what we’re supposed to do,” Couture said. “We’re supposed to go out and contribute offensively, score goals and play well. When we’re winning games, most nights, the big guys are contributing.”

Even if Couture won’t bite, a teammate will.

“It’s big to get somebody going, especially with what he means to our team,” Pavelski said of Couture. “It’s good to see, it’s exciting. We know what he can do, and he’s elevated his game.

“You need it, you really do,” he added. “You need those moments. He’s been a big piece for us all year, and he was again” in Game 5.

Ross McKeon is a freelance writer. Twitter: @rossmckeon

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S.J. vs. Nashville

Sharks lead series 3-2

Game 1: Sharks 5, Predators 2

Game 2: Sharks 3, Predators 2

Game 3: Predators 4, Sharks 1

Game 4: Predators 4, Sharks 3

Game 5: Sharks 5, Predators 1

Monday: at Nashville, 6 p.m. CNBC

Thursday: at SAP Center, TBA* TBA

* if necessary

All games on 98.5.

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