First, let me apologize for the gap between blogs. I have been traveling and off the radar. I have made my way back to civilization and I almost wish I hadn't. Now that I'm all caught up I have a few thoughts on what's happening to Pete Deboer's team.
The Sharks are in a less than comfortable position and I sense a feeling of doom-and-gloom creeping into ones psyche, but fear not...all is not lost.
So, what has changed?
How about playing the second of a back-to-back without the services of Marc-Edouard Vlasicm, arguably their best defensive defenseman (lower body). Logan Couture is not back yet, but very close to it. His return alone should provide the team a lift. Plus, let's be honest....the level of goaltending play has a dipped a bit.
The San Jose Sharks have lost three in a row and are 1-4-0 in the last five. It feels like a hundred years since a six-game winning streak in mid November had us all believing that this team could be a legit threat in the West.
Now they find themselves on the cusp of being out of a playoff spot... period.
Since the win streak, San Jose has been blown out by Chicago and Pittsburgh, been shutout by Anaheim and nearly blown out by Tampa before making a push to make the game respectable.
They have fallen seven points behind the first place Kings and their lead over Anaheim and Arizona in down a single point and the Canucks are in the mix too.
So why am I not really too concerned? Basically because every season is compilation of ebbs and flows and right now the Sharks are experiencing more ebbs than they are flows.
So what's there to be optimistic about?
- How about the not-so-bad power play for starters? The man-advantage accounted for all three Sharks goals against Tampa. San Jose is now a middle of the pack power play team (18th @ 18.2%) instead a bottom feeder.
- Despite falling down 4-1 to the Lightning, San Jose had a strong game. They controlled much of the 5 v. 5 play during the final two thirds of the game. The Sharks outplayed and out-chanced the Lightning, attempting a whopping 66 shots, including 31 at even strength. With a better start and a better effort from Alex Stalock, the end result could have been much different. Speaking of Stalock, an .800 save percentage does not cut it at any level of hockey, especially the NHL.
- The strong start to the 2015-16 season gave San Jose some breathing room. They were afforded a chance to hit the skids and not completely fall flat on their faces. If they have a strong showing on the Alberta swing we will be right back to believing in the long-term success of this group.
So what's your feeling? Are you worried yet? Or nah?
Thanks for reading. Steve