Logan Couture took a punishing hit up high from forward Zack Kassian in Game 2 of the Sharks’ Stanley Cup playoff series with the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night.
Later in the game, defenseman Kris Russell shoved him toward the end boards, face first. In Game 1, Couture received an elbow to the face from blue liner Eric Gryba.
With wires and plastic holding Couture’s mouth together, the Oilers are trying to make life as uncomfortable as possible for the Sharks’ alternate captain, delivering contact to his chin area whenever possible.
Nevertheless, Sharks coach Pete DeBoer downplayed the impact of the way the Oilers are targeting his wounded forward, insisting that it isn’t going to change how his team approaches Game 3 of the series, which is tied 1-1, at the SAP Center on Sunday night.