Preview/Lines #42: Couture Sorry To Not Play in Montreal, Doesn’t Think He’ll Debut in Ottawa

MONTREAL – Logan Couture loves playing in Montreal.

It’s the Bell Centre, the rabid fans on top of you, an arena with an atmosphere and history like no other.

So the San Jose Sharks captain, sidelined all season with a lower-body injury, is sorry that he’s going to miss out on that tonight.

How about the Sharks’ next stop on this five-game road trip, Ottawa?

Elliotte Friedman suggested recently that Couture could make his season debut at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday, but the Ottawa 67’s great poured some cold water on that today, telling Marc-Antoine Godin of Radio Canada: “Ottawa has a special place for me. But at this moment, it’s probably not going to be there, unfortunately.”

Sharks Miss Couture, Sturm & Benning’s Compete

Couture didn’t quite rule himself out, and he continues to practice with no apparent limitations, including participating in today’s optional. So we’ll see!

After Ottawa, San Jose goes to Buffalo, another place near and dear to Couture’s heart. Of course, he’s a huge Buffalo Bills fan, but more importantly, it’s a relatively short drive away from his hometown Toronto. So something of a homecoming would be a great way to finally kick off his 2023-24 campaign.

“I think moving forward here, every day, any game is a possibility,” San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn said today.

San Jose Sharks (9-29-3)

Blackwood in net tonight, Labanc in for Sabourin, Vlasic in for Emberson

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 11, 2024

Montreal Canadiens (17-17-6)

Game 41: Montembeault Expected To Start Versus Lowly Sharks

Where to Watch

Puck drop between the San Jose Sharks and Montreal Canadiens is 4 PM PT at Bell Centre. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.