SJHN Daily: Hertl Enjoying Victory Lap Over Couture, Draymond Green Excited About Celebrini

Logan Couture had some fun at Tomas Hertl’s expense yesterday.

Couture told the Mercury News that he and Hertl used to have a friendly bet when Couture’s Canada and Hertl’s Czechia took each other on in the World Junior Championships.

“Tommy has been too scared to bet me the last two years,” Couture said.

On Tuesday, however, Czechia upset Canada 3-2 in the quarterfinals.

“He could have won some money back from me,” the San Jose Sharks captain said, smiling. “I’m sure he’s a little disappointed.”

Hertl is still enjoying the victory lap though.

“I feel like every time I bet him, I’ve lost,” he said today to San Jose Hockey Now. “So maybe now, not bet him, and just enjoy the bragging. Bragging is so fun. We got a couple of Czechs so we can brag a little.”

That’s Filip Zadina and Jan Rutta. Hertl is hoping to keep the good times rolling with a Czechia victory over Sweden tomorrow in the semi-finals, and bragging rights over Fabian Zetterlund and William Eklund.

AT SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW…

The San Jose Sharks dropped their ninth-straight game on Tuesday to the Detroit Red Wings.

Kyle Burroughs became the first player on the Sharks to publicly wear a neck guard.

James Reimer looks back on the sunny side of his complicated San Jose tenure.

Mario Ferraro is thankful to be OK after taking a big hit from Nathan MacKinnon.

Logan Couture recounted the time he had to kick Brent Burns out of the Sharks’ fantasy football league.

IN OTHER SHARKS NEWS…

Future San Jose Sharks (?) star Macklin Celebrini has a crazy Bay Area connection:

Draymond Green bragging about seeing Macklin Celebrini play before he turns into an NHL star is the best thing you’ll see today.#SJSharks currently hold the best odds of landing the projected 1st overall pick in the upcoming draft.

(🎥via @TSN_Sports)pic.twitter.com/d76se70w7z

— SnipeCity420  (@SnipeCity420) January 2, 2024

More on the San Jose Sharks’ ninth-straight loss:

Mounting Frustration + Bitter Loss

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— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) January 3, 2024

AROUND THE NHL…

The Vegas Golden Knights took a backseat to the heroics of Joey Daccord in a 3-0 shutout loss in the Winter Classic.

The New York Islanders are going to have to make it through a gauntlet of a January schedule if they want to stay in the Metropolitan Division playoff race.

The Chicago Blackhawks have claimed ex-Shark Jaycob Megna off waivers.

Grit and work ethic should be the M-O moving forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins, writes PHN’s Dan Kingerski.

Max Pacioretty will make his Washington Capitals debut.

Can the Philadelphia Flyers get out of their 1-2-2 funk to start the new year?

Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros made what could possibly be the save of the year.

John Hynes on getting behind the Minnesota Wild bench.

Tough spot for the Classic. Venue wasn't compelling. Game wasn't that electric. It only had a small window before Alabama/Michigan.

But very interesting note here: 1st time the Classic didn't deliver the season's biggest audience. What did? Connor Bedard's opening night debut. https://t.co/5yywYKCCp9

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) January 3, 2024