Preview/Lines #55: Couture Talks 900th Game, Quinn on What He Wants From Labanc

Logan Couture is set to become the fifth player in franchise history to skate in 900 San Jose Sharks games tonight.

Patrick Marleau (1,607 games), Marc-Edouard Vlasic (1,214), and Joe Thornton (1,104) lead the way for games in teal, with Joe Pavelski (963) in sight for Couture.

Couture made his NHL debut on Oct. 25, 2009 at Philadelphia, notching two shots and a tripping penalty in 7:01 of action in a 4-1 Sharks’ victory.

“I was 20 at the time, and now, close to 34. So it’s 14 years, 14 great years,” the San Jose Sharks captain said this morning. “I’ve been very fortunate to play with some very good players. Had some very good times. I cherish it, that’s for sure.”

The ninth-overall pick of the 2007 Draft is the ninth player in his class to play that many games.

San Jose Sharks (17-26-11)

Aaron Dell will start and Kevin Labanc is back in the line-up.

Originally, the plan was for Kaapo Kahkonen back up — he appeared to practice in full today — but last minute, the Sharks called up Eetu Makiniemi.

As for Jonah Gadjovich, David Quinn said he suffered a week-to-week upper-body injury from an “awkward collision” in the second period of Saturday’s victory over the Washington Capitals.

Gadjovich was put on the IR today.

Quinn says that Labanc will skate with Steven Lorentz and Evgeny Svechnikov on the fourth line.

“I’m looking for compete. I’m looking for effort. I’m looking for getting your nose over the puck, poise with the puck,” Quinn said of Labanc, who doesn’t necessarily play a traditional fourth-line game.

Otherwise, lines and pairings should look the same for the Sharks as in their last game.

Pittsburgh Penguins (26-17-9)

Penguins vs. Sharks, Game 53: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

Sully also said that Jan Rutta, who’s been out since Jan. 16 with an upper-body injury, is not yet available to play. https://t.co/nbrJyzXO7N

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) February 14, 2023

Where to Watch

The San Jose Sharks will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7:30 PM PST at SAP Center. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.