SAN JOSE – For about two weeks now, the San Jose Sharks have felt their sport is trending in the appropriate course, and that they’re doing sufficient good issues to assist get their season again on monitor.
However their document tells a distinct story, and proper now the Sharks are an unpleasant 3-8-3 with the second-worst factors share (.321) within the NHL.
And their just-completed homestand through which they gained simply certainly one of six video games felt like a blown alternative to get again into the playoff race.
The Sharks had a 1-2-3 document on the homestand through which they misplaced the final three video games in a shootout, and had two different regulation time losses through which they have been both main or tied within the third interval.
On reflection, the Sharks might have gained all six video games, thanks largely to the brilliance of Erik Karlsson, who has 13 factors in that stretch. As a substitute, the Sharks collected simply 5 factors of a doable 12 factors and can begin a four-game highway journey this week in final place within the Pacific Division.
“Our mindset is we’re not out of this factor,” Sharks winger Luke Kunin mentioned Saturday after the Sharks’ 5-4 shootout loss to the Anaheim Geese. “Everybody’s a aggressive particular person on this locker room. We’ve simply bought to return again to work, have highway journey, and simply proceed to search out methods to get out of this factor and put a full 60 or 65 (minutes) collectively.”
As soon as once more, the Sharks dedicated an inexcusable gaffe Saturday at one of many sport’s most important moments.
The Sharks had a two-goal lead late within the third interval, with an opportunity to go up by three on an influence play with 6:09 left in regulation time.
As a substitute, the Sharks couldn’t beat Geese goalie Anthony Stolarz regardless of 4 photographs on web.
Then simply earlier than the ability play expired, Steven Lorentz’s tried cross from the nook to Matt Nieto on the Geese’ blue line went as an alternative to ahead Mason McTavish, who got here out of the penalty field and beat goalie James Reimer on a breakaway to chop the Sharks’ result in 4-3 with 4:02 left within the third interval.
“We proceed to really feel like we’re entering into the appropriate course,” Sharks coach David Quinn mentioned Saturday. “However Jesus, can we shoot ourselves within the foot, and we did once more right this moment.”
Anaheim pulled Stolarz for the additional attacker and Adam Henrique scored the game-tying purpose with 1:28 left within the third interval.
The Geese and Sharks went by a scoreless additional time, because of 4 saves by Reimer and 5 from Stolarz, earlier than Anaheim gained in a five-round shootout. Henrique had the decisive purpose.
“Typically you need to endure to this extent to alter your method, and that’s actually all there was to it,” Quinn mentioned. “As a result of everyone performed properly for essentially the most half.
“The unhappy factor is that they make a nasty play like (the one which led to McTavish’s purpose), however they've good video games. However once you make a play of that magnitude, it hurts.”
The Sharks are actually 3-2-2 this season after they’ve led or been tied after two intervals. San Jose, with a much less skilled crew, was 28-6-10 in these conditions final season, together with 20-0-4 when main after 40 minutes.
The Sharks earlier on the homestand additionally made third-period errors – blown coverages on faceoffs, missed assignments on backchecks – that helped result in losses to Vegas and Tampa Bay the week earlier than.
The Sharks additionally began slowly of their first sport in opposition to Anaheim on Tuesday and failed to guard a third-period lead in opposition to Florida on Thursday.
“We’re making unhealthy errors at unhealthy instances, and it’s completely different individuals,” Quinn mentioned. “It’s not one man.”
Quinn picked up his 99th profession win as an NHL head coach on Oct. 27 when the Sharks, because of an OT purpose by Karlsson, beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 in additional time.
Afterward, the Sharks, maybe in a playful jab, performed the Leafs’ purpose tune – “You Make My Goals” by Corridor and Oates – of their locker room. Smiles have been in plentiful provide.
The postgame tunes haven’t been heard since, and Quinn continues to be ready to earn his one hundredth victory as an NHL head coach.
“It’s studying,” Quinn mentioned, “and generally you’ve bought to be taught and really feel this sort of ache earlier than you truly cease enjoying that method and doing the issues we’ve achieved.”