West Notes: Couture, Karlsson, Radulov, Ferland

With all the disappointments that have surrounded the San Jose Sharks this season, the team finally got some good news as captain Logan Couture, who has been out with a broken ankle since the beginning of January, skated today for the second time, according to the Mercury News’ Curtis Pashelka. While there remains no timetable for a return just yet, it’s good news for a team that recently lost all-star Tomas Hertl to a season-ending injury.

The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz adds that Couture is expected to skate again Sunday and then will take off Monday before deciding what to do next. Couture is just skating, however, and hasn’t yet worked with pucks. However, Couture is happy and pleased with the way the team has been playing of late. The Sharks have won two straight and three of their last five games.

• The Vegas Golden Knights might also be getting back one of its top players as forward William Karlsson practiced with the team today in a regular jersey, suggesting that the 27-year-old is close to returning. “He’s getting close,” said head coach Peter DeBoer (via Las Vegas Review-Journal’s David Schoen). “I think he’s taking some contact today. He’s got another X-ray tomorrow and then we’ll see. If that goes well, he’s probably really close.” Karlsson could be available for the team’s game against Minnesota on Monday, depending on how his x-rays come out.
• The Dallas Stars announced they will be without top winger Alexander Radulov Saturday. The forward suffered an upper-body injury in Friday’s game against Minnesota. Rookie Joel Kiviranta will take his place in the lineup. The 33-year-old has 15 goals and 31 points, which are numbers well below his first two seasons in Dallas where he scored 27 and 29 goals each.
• The Vancouver Canucks are also hoping to get back a familiar face. Forward Micheal Ferland returned to practice and skated with the team, but TSN’s Rick Dhaliwal reports that the team still intends to send Ferland to the Utica Comets of the AHL on a conditioning stint before allowing him to return to the lineup. Ferland spent some time this week practicing with the team, but they now hope to get him some game action in the AHL first. Ferland, out with an upper-body injury, hasn’t appeared in a game since Dec. 10.