SAN JOSE — The Sharks will enter unfamiliar territory if they have to go without both Joe Thornton and Logan Couture for Tuesday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks and beyond.
With that in mind, it figures that players like Tomas Hertl will have a more important role with the Sharks than ever before.
The Sharks, after Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Canucks, were all saying that it’s going to take a group effort to make up for the absence of Thornton and Couture. No one player is going to replace the playmaking ability and leadership of Thornton, plus Couture’s versatility on special teams and ability to match up against top centers on opposing teams.