The San Jose Sharks did a lot of little things very well last season. A hockey has to in order to come withing two wins of hoisting the Stanley Cup. However, they struggled much of the regular season and into the playoffs on the penalty kill.
Last season, the Sharks PK finished near the bottom third of the league (21st) with a very pedestrian 80.5% kill rate . They didn't fare much better during the Stanley Cup playoffs. In fact, that number dipped to 79.7%.
Naturally head coach Pete Deboer made the penalty kill a key point of emphasis heading into training camp and the preseason. The added attention seems to be paying off.
The Sharks finished the 2016-17 preseason a perfect 24 for 24 after killing all six Anaheim Ducks power play opportunities last night.
It's a small step in the right direction, albeit against inferior, non-NHL rosters, but it is still worthy of a mention. The real trick is carrying that efficiency over when the games actually count. Deboer doesn't seem to believe that's going to be a problem at all...
“It’s an area we want to make sure we’re good at,”DeBoer said following the 3-2 loss in Anaheim. “It’s an area we flagged for big improvement this year. The guys are grasping what we’re trying to do really well.”
I have no doubt the Sharks are going to be better in shorthanded situations. They just keep getting better and better. I tip my hat to Deboer for that. Since Deboer's arrival last season, the San Jose players have continually met or exceeded all of their coach's challenges - something that fizzled and failed in Florida and New Jersey.
Way to go Pete.
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The Sharks finished the preseason with three consecutive losses (3-2-1 overall) after having started with three straight victories. Two of the losses came to the Mighty Ducks or Anaheim. You shouldn't shed too many tears though.
The boys in teal didn't exactly ice a murderers row for Sunday's tilt at the Honda Center.
Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski, Brent Burns, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Logan Couture, Paul Martin and Joel Ward were all scratches last night.
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Sunday's game was a bit of a snoooozzzzzefest.... except for an abbreviated line brawl that grabbed most of the headlines.
Nothing gets a crowd going better than some of that old-time hockey. The Pacific Division rivals combined for 82 PIMS in the edgy affair. Just goes to show just how much these two teams despise each other. Ain't it great?
San Jose Sharks Blogger • 
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