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Couture didn’t mean to ‘slam’ the Panthers

Vancouver Canucks v San Jose Sharks - Game Three

SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 05: Logan Couture #39 of the San Jose Sharks reacts after scoring a third period power play goal against the Vancouver Canucks in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at HP Pavilion on May 5, 2013 in San Jose, California. The Sharks defeated the Canucks 5-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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San Jose forward Logan Couture wasn’t trying to disrespect the Panthers when he referenced playing in Florida after last night’s 4-3 overtime loss in Los Angeles.

Per the Mercury News, here’s Couture’s exact statement after the Sharks failed to win at the Staples Center for the 11th time in 12 tries: “We could have played in Florida tonight and probably lost that game, too.”

You can see why some Panthers fans may have taken issue with that, especially if they didn’t know about the Sharks’ struggles at the Staples Center.

Via Couture’s Twitter account today, here’s what he meant by his Florida remark:

“I was asked if playing in Staples Center had an effect on the way we played last night and the outcome. I answered no, that we (meaning the Kings and Sharks) could have played in Florida and it wouldn’t have mattered.

“Some reporters have chosen to try and twist those comments into a slam against the Florida Panthers. Couldn’t be further from the truth. We could have played in a building where we were undefeated and had the same result.

“All I was saying was we wouldn’t have beat the Kings anywhere. The arena (Staples Center) was not the issue.”

So there you go. No disrespect to the Panthers.

San Jose, by the way, plays in Sunrise on Jan. 16.