SAN JOSE, Calif. _ The chirping between the Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights' benches may have subsided a bit in Game 6. That doesn't mean all of the talk coming from the Golden Knights bench quieted down, though.
In fact, Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said Monday that it's Vegas coach Gerard Gallant doing most of the talking right now.
Asked if the talk _ particularly through the media _ dying down recently between the two teams maybe works in the Sharks' favor, DeBoer said, "I don't know if it works in our favor. I mean, there's still chatter. Their coach is chattering. He's probably doing the most chattering. He's talking to our players constantly during the game, which I haven't seen before.
"That's probably where most of the chatter's coming from now. The players are playing."
Towards Logan Couture?
"Yeah, ridiculous," DeBoer said.
Couture, in his 10th NHL season, said he hasn't had many coaches talk to him from the bench.
"There's not many that will yell at players," Couture said. "But we're in the Stanley Cup playoffs. If they think this is going to help them win, let them do it."
It was obvious Sunday that Gallant was upset Jonathan Marchessault got called for slashing Couture in the second period Sunday. Marchessault himself was incredulous, throwing his gloves off against the glass in the penalty box after he watched the replay of the incident on the cube at T-Mobile Arena.
Monday, Couture showed reporters the mark Marchessault's stick made on the right side of his face.
'He got me right near the eye," Couture said. "I don't know why they were upset about that. But it's a penalty and the refs called it. I guess if you're getting a penalty, you're going to be upset."
The Sharks didn't score on that power play, but they did in Game 5 when Marchessault was called for high-sticking Couture with 5:30 left in the third period. Just 15 seconds later, Tomas Hertl gave the Sharks a 4-2 lead.
Couture said he lost two teeth on the play, as he got off the ice right afterward and went into the Sharks' locker room. At first, there was no call. Couture came back out afterward to show the officials the damage, and after the officiating crew huddled, Marchessault was penalized.
"They didn't think I was cut. I mean, my teeth were basically down my throat and I had to have the dentist pull them out," Couture said.
After that game, Gallant said, "The guy goes off the ice, like I said, from what I (saw), I didn't think there was much there, for that reaction."
"I just play hockey. I don't get involved in that chirping (stuff)," Couture said. "There's guys that do that. Guys on their team and on their bench. But I don't get involved in that. Just stick to playing hockey."
The Sharks host the Golden Knights in a decisive Game 7 on Tuesday.
