Notes: Managing Couture's minutes; Sharks competing

SAN JOSE – One unfortunate trend will be broken on Saturday night when the Sharks host the Winnipeg Jets.

San Jose will be attempting to win consecutive games at home for the first time all season, coming off of Wednesday’s 4-2 triumph over Philadelphia. The Jets, meanwhile, will be attempting to end a six-game road losing streak. Overall, Winnipeg has dropped 12 of its last 13 away from MTS Centre (1-11-1).

The Sharks still own the NHL’s worst home record (5-10-0), where they will remain for their next two games after Saturday. They will get to enjoy a little break before Thursday against Detroit.

[KURZ: Morning Skate: Sharks try for first consecutive home wins]

Putting together their first home winning streak would allow them to feel good about themselves for three straight practice days, starting on Monday.

“This game is going to stick with us for at least a couple days. We want to have a good one and build off of what we did last game at home,” Logan Couture said.

Pete DeBoer said: “We definitely want to empty the tank here tonight. We don’t have anything to save it for. Our energy should be good. Those days off are much more enjoyable after a win, and that’s the goal.”

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Couture will be playing his second game since his most recent injury, when internal bleeding in his right thigh sidelined him for seven straight.

DeBoer will continue to manage Couture’s minutes, keeping him off of the penalty kill for the time being. The 26-year-old played 15:22 against Philadelphia, posting a pair of assists.

“I think every day he’s looking more comfortable,” DeBoer said. “We’re going to try and keep him off the penalty kill here in the short term until I feel that he is closer to 100 percent, but there’s no limitations on him other than that. He’s starting to look and feel more confident every day.”

Couture raised some eyebrows when he said before Wednesday’s game that he didn’t know if he was “ever going to feel like I did before” he fractured his ankle in October.

He clarified on Saturday that he’s not worried about any long-term repercussions from having a rod and pins inserted into the ankle.

“Oh, no. Nothing like that,” he said. “Guys have had this surgery and come back and been better from it and felt more comfortable. But, it’s never going to be the same. It’s different with something in there.

“It’s not just going to be like a normal ankle, there’s something in there other than your bone. I still believe I can be the same player, or better. It’s just going to feel different.”

Couture admitted he was sore after the Flyers game, but that certainly didn’t seem to bother him.

“The next day getting out of bed was a nice reminder you’re back playing in the NHL and your body is not going to feel too good. It was nice to have a couple practice days, and getting back to feeling good again.”

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The Sharks will keep their lineup the same for the Jets, as DeBoer enjoys having a full compliment of healthy players to choose from. That means Ben Smith and Mike Brown will watch from the press box.

The internal competition for playing time is at full tilt.

“That’s everything from a coaching perspective,” DeBoer said. “That’s motivation. If you know there are good players sitting in the stands like we did [Wednesday] night – I think [Mike Brown] had maybe one of his best games of the year the game [against Colorado on Monday], and he’s sitting out. That puts everybody on notice. That’s a better motivator than any speech a coach can make.”

Dainius Zubrus said: “We’re happy to have [Couture] back of course, and I think our top six are pretty good, but I think there’s quite a bit of a competition and healthy guys pushing each other to stay in the lineup. It’s all healthy, it’s all good, and the guys are working hard.”

Raffi Torres, who has 10 days left on his 41-game suspension, skated with Mike Ricci on Saturday morning and stayed out for a portion of the morning skate.

Martin Jones will start in net for the Sharks, facing Connor Hellebucyk.