Notes: Zubrus finding role with Sharks, set to face old team

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SAN JOSE -- Dainius Zubrus wasn’t with the Sharks the last time they saw the Devils, way back on Oct. 16 at Prudential Center.

The veteran forward was still supposed to be with New Jersey at that point, but was bought out of the final year of his contract on July 30. Thursday will mark the first time he sees the club with which he spent the previous eight seasons.

Although the affable 37-year-old didn’t express any overt feelings of ill will towards the Devils while speaking with the media after Thursday’s morning skate, the fact that his buyout happened so late in the offseason didn’t make for an ideal situation.

“I did have a meeting with [former Devils executive] Lou [Lamoriello] at the end of the year and that was right around the beginning of June, and that’s when [general manager] Ray [Shero] came in. He never told me that I was going anywhere, he kind of asked me what I wanted to do, and I was getting ready for the season. It was towards the end of July, so I was in my training mode and was looking forward to the new season. At the time, it was a bit of a shock.

“I [played] eight years in Jersey, good years. A lot of good people there I still talk to in the organization. I can understand it’s a business. I wish the timing was a little bit different, but things happen. I have no regrets.”

Zubrus was signed by the Sharks on Nov. 24, shortly after a tryout with the St. Louis Blues didn’t work out. One of the primary reasons he was brought in by coach Pete DeBoer, who had Zubrus in New Jersey, was to serve as a role model for the younger depth players. Zubrus has spent most of his time playing with Chris Tierney, 21, and Melker Karlsson, 25.

“We had a game [Feb. 26] at home against Buffalo we lost, and honestly [Zubrus] was in the weight room an hour after the game ended. Everyone else had cleared out.” DeBoer said. “For me, that’s been his most value, showing our depth players how to prepare, how to work, what they have to do in order to survive in this league and carve out a career.”

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Logan Couture said: “He’s someone that Tierns or Melker can look up to. He’s been in this game for a long time, and there’s a reason for that, the way he takes care of himself and how hard he works.”

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The Devils will turn to Keith Kincaid in net on Thursday for the fourth straight game, as Cory Schneider remains shelved with a sprained knee.

Schneider was probably the Devils’ MVP at the time of the injury on March 4, with a 2.17 goals-against average and .923 save percentage. The 26-year-old Kincaid is 5-6-1 with a 2.74 GAA and .902 SP in 15 games this season.

“As great as Cory is, Keith Kinkaid has the ability to step in and play a fantastic game tonight. I’ve seen it,” DeBoer said. “We’re treating it like there’s not going to be a drop off, and that’s with all the appropriate respect to Cory and what he’s done this year and how good he is.”

Martin Jones returns to the net for San Jose. In his last 23 starts, Jones is 17-4-2 with a 2.02 GAA and .930 SP, and is coming off of a career-high 47 saves in Calgary on Monday in a 2-1 overtime win.

The Sharks will need to improve on their 12-14-3 mark at home if they want to challenge for a division title. They have 12 games remaining at SAP Center out of 16 total.

“We’ve got to focus on our own game right now, especially at home,” Couture said. “We’ve got to come out and start strong, get a lead, and build off a game at home.”

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Tommy Wingels will miss his 11th straight game on Thursday with a sprained left shoulder, but told reporters he hopes to return some time next week. The Sharks host Washington on Saturday and Boston next Tuesday.

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