The San Jose Sharks are not moving in the right direction. With just four wins in their last 10 games, the Sharks are inching their way closer to the bottom of the standings than to the top.
At one time I actually thought the Sharks were a good hockey team. I don't think I can say that anymore. This is a very fragile team with holes on the blue line and between the pipes. I think it has become increasingly evident that Martin Jones is not as good as his early season numbers indicated. His tendency to allow soft goals has been his bugaboo over the last several weeks.
Sports fans tend to overreact at the first sign of trouble, but I think it's safe to say...It's probably time to panic.
The LA Kings and Anaheim Ducks each made moves in the past couple of days to improve themselves while San Jose continues to flounder in mediocrity and the word 'mediocrity' is probably a tad bit complimentary.
The Sharks are sixth in the Pacific Division and trail Vancouver by three points for third in the Pacific and the Nashville Predators by seven points for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. The Ducks and Calgary Flames each moved ahead of them in the standings and the Edmonton Oilers are breathing down their necks.
San Jose only has five points in their last six games, and are coming off one of their worst losses of the season last Saturday.
So yes...it's okay to feel a little panicky in Sharksville.
On the bright side, the Sharks have played the fewest amount of games in the NHL and haven't played a game in five days. They've had time to stew in their lack of success and perhaps get their heads back on straight.
But considering what I have seen from this team recently I am not holding my breath.
Tonight's opponent, the Detroit Red Wings have won two in a row on the road and enter a building that has not been kind to its own tenants.
At 5-11-0 at the SAP Center, San Jose owns the worst home record in the league.
The Sharks have 11 games left until the All-Star break and every one of them is important. Let's win tonight first and go from there,
...
In other news...
Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns are NHL All-Stars! Yay!
Thanks for reading, Steve