I write a blog questioning the Sharks defensive decline and of course they come out and play two defensive gems. With huge wins over the Kings and Coyotes, the Sharks extended their current winning streak to three games.

San Jose allowed three goals against in winning the last two games against Los Angeles and Arizona after having surrendered 18 goals in the previous four. And despite the defensive lapses they are 6-2-2 in the last 10 games.

The Sharks improved their season record to 24-13-6 and 54 points. The latest streak puts them ahead of everybody but Vegas in the Pacific Division after they’d fallen out of the mix during the bye. San Jose is tied with the Calgary Flames for second place in the Pacific Division and have two games in hand.That in itself is quite remarkable when you consider they weren't given much of a chance this season by the pre-season prognosticators.

The good:

The line of Chris Tierney, Mikkel Boedker and Joonas Donskoi is becoming something of a force for Pete Deboer's team.

Boedker has been pretty much a bust since joining the Sharks as free-agent. He was benched prior to the break in what had to be a desperate attempt to squeeze water from a rock. Yet somehow it's worked. Boedker has points in three straight and goals in the last two.

- Donskoi didn't earn a point vs. Arizona but he had five (2g 3a) in the previous two, including a breakout three point performance in the last meeting with the 'Yotes.

- Tierney matched his career high of 11 goals in just 43 games. He's on pace to eclipse the 20 goal mark, something San Jose had hoped they'd get from the youngster in Patrick Marleau's absence.

Aaron Dell had another great game and saved his team's bacon with a bevy of stops on quality AZ scoring chances. The Sharks back-up has 10 win s in 13 starts and a very impressive .925 save percentage and 2.26 GAA.

The bad:

- The third period continues to be an issue. Five of the eight goals allowed during the three game win streak came in the final frame, including all three in the last two games. San Jose had a 2-0 third period lead against the worst team in the league. Yet somehow they somehow found themselves needing a shootout to win. Shades of the Ottawa debacle. On the bright side, they are still 17-0-1 when leading after two periods.

The ugly:

Arizona had 10 more even strength shot than the Sharks. Not a good look against a bad Arizona team.

Thanks for reading,
Steve

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