Logan Couture returns, but Sharks’ road woes continue
Joel Kellman and Noah Gregor both scored their second career NHL goals as the San Jose Sharks lost their fifth straight
Pre-NHL trade deadline, or post-NHL trade deadline: the Sharks’ troubles in the second period on this road trip never seemed to end.
A day after trading Patrick Marleau and Barclay Goodrow to playoff contenders, the Sharks allowed two second period goals and never recovered in a 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center.
Joel Kellman and Noah Gregor both scored their second career NHL goals in the Sharks loss, their fifth straight as they finished the road trip 0-4-0.
With the game tied 1-1, Kevin Hayes and Travis Konecny scored goals at the 3:51 and 9:41 marks of the second period, respectively, to give the Flyers the lead for good. Hayes added his 21st goal of the season at the 3:43 mark of the third period for a 4-1 Philadelphia lead.
Gregor’s goal came at the 8:18 mark of the third period off a pass from Marcus Sorensen. Kellman scored at the 6:30 mark of the first period to tie the game 1-1 after a shot on goal from Jacob Middleton.
The Sharks (26-33-4) were outscored 6-1 in the second period in the four road games, including 4-0 in the last two games. The Sharks lost 2-1 to New Jersey on Thursday, 3-2 to the New York Rangers on Saturday and 4-1 to the New York Islanders on Sunday.
The Sharks return home to play the Devils on Thursday and welcome back Marleau when he and the Pittsburgh Penguins visit SAP Center on Saturday. Marleau was traded to the Penguins on Monday morning before Goodrow was sent to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Center Logan Couture returned to the Sharks’ lineup after a 17-game absence and played on the top line with Evander Kane and Kevin Labanc. Couture had 11:50 of ice time before he was injured late in the second period after he blocked a shot from Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk.
Couture was inside the Sharks’ zone and trying to clear the puck when he was checked by Flyers center Derek Grant. Couture was knocked down on the play and had just gotten up when van Riemsdyk’s shot from a sharp angle appeared to go off one of Couture’s legs.
Couture remained on the ice for a few more seconds before he went to the Sharks’ dressing room. He returned for the start of the third period and finished with 18:00 of ice time. Couture suffered a small fracture in his ankle in a game against the St. Louis Blues on Jan. 7. The Sharks went 7-10-0 in his absence.