SAN JOSE – Maybe the Sharks’ largest power in current weeks – past getting excellent particular person performances from second-year heart Macklin Celebrini and rookie goalie Yarsolav Askarov — has been their capability to get previous a nasty recreation.
The Sharks, regrettably, are in that place once more going into Friday’s dwelling matinee in opposition to the Vancouver Canucks, as they attempt to bounce again from their most lopsided lack of the season.
On their heels from the beginning, the Sharks have been blasted 6-0 by the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche in Denver on Wednesday night time as they allowed two objectives within the first interval and three extra within the second.
Nothing went proper for the Sharks as Askarov, by means of no fault of his personal, was pulled early within the second interval after the fourth purpose. San Jose additionally managed solely a handful of high quality scoring possibilities because it was shut out for the third time this season.
Now it’s a matter of correcting these points – the dearth of compete and physicality, together with some psychological errors and defensive breakdowns – in time for his or her recreation in opposition to the Canucks, who’re coming off a 5-4 win over the Anaheim Geese on Wednesday.
“To get better and to be a good team, you can’t dwell on the past,” Sharks ahead Adam Gaudette stated Thursday. “If you have an off night, the most important thing is the response the next game. You can’t let those losses stack up.”
The Sharks (11-10-3) haven’t, as after their final seven losses, they’ve responded with a win six occasions.
The latest instance got here final weekend, when, after a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, the Sharks responded the following day with a 3-1 victory over the Boston Bruins.
The Senators outcompeted the Sharks for many of the closing two durations. However after what coach Ryan Warsofsky known as an “honest” discuss the following morning, the Sharks responded with a a lot better total effort – mixed with an amazing efficiency from Askarov – to complete what was a four-game homestand on a constructive observe.
“You hope at some point it clicks, and you don’t have to have a response after a letdown, and you grow your team, and you grow your game,” Warsofsky stated Thursday. “However for the place we’re as a corporation, with the (youth) on our crew, we’re in all probability going to have some nights the place we possibly take a step ahead, and some video games later, we take a bit little bit of a step again.
“We’ve got to, as coaches, challenge that and try to teach through that, demand more, and have an understanding of what it looks like when we have success. I think our group has responded pretty well for the most part this year.”
A lot better than the last few years, anyway. Because the Sharks went 20-50-12 final season, they’d 5 dropping streaks of not less than six video games and responded to a loss with a win solely 13 occasions.
This season, after a 0-4-2 begin, the Sharks’ longest dropping skid is 2 video games, as they misplaced on the street to Calgary and Seattle on Nov. 13 and 15. That’s allowed the Sharks to remain close to the playoff cutline, as they entered Thursday two factors again of the second and closing wild card spot within the Western Convention.
The Sharks will fly to Las Vegas proper after Friday’s recreation to play the Golden Knights on Saturday.
“There’s just a better product on ice, and a bigger belief that we’re a good team in here,” Sharks winger Ryan Reaves stated. “When you start believing that, those losses don’t mean as much. A loss is a loss, but you’ve got to move on, and good teams learn how to move on.”
CELEBRINI SITS
Celebrini was given a upkeep day on Thursday however will play Friday, stated Warsofsky, including that the Sharks’ main scorer and No. 1 heart isn’t coping with something particular.
“Just a lot of hockey for him,” Warsofsky stated. “Just going through the wear of it all, just kind of dealing with bumps and bruises, and (Celebrini’s) no different.”
Celebrini had 20:47 in ice time on Wednesday and performed late into the third interval. Celebrini centered the Sharks’ high line with William Eklund and Will Smith and had three photographs on web, 11 shot makes an attempt, and received seven of 17 faceoffs. The Sharks’ energy play created some scoring alternatives however nonetheless went 0-for-4.
SKINNER, MISA TIMELINES
Forwards Jeff Skinner and Michael Misa, each out with lower-body accidents, skated once more on Thursday and will, in the event that they proceed to progress, be part of the Sharks for his or her subsequent scheduled apply on Tuesday.
Skinner, 33, was injured within the first interval of the Sharks’ recreation in opposition to the Calgary Flames on Nov. 13 as his proper leg crashed onerous into the boards whereas he was competing for a free puck. Misa, 18, was injured in the course of the Sharks’ morning skate on Nov. 5 earlier than a street recreation in opposition to the Seattle Kraken.
“We’re rolling with 12 forwards, and it’s been a challenge to get through it, but it is what it is,” Warsofsky stated. “We miss (Skinner) on the power play, and he can obviously create some offense. Misa is continuing to develop as a young center, so he gives us another option.”
Warsofsky stated he wasn’t certain concerning the plan for Misa, whether or not he’ll be part of the Barracuda on a conditioning stint or be loaned to Group Canada for subsequent month’s IIHF World Junior Championship in Minnesota. The Canadians are starting their coaching camp in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on Dec. 12
