SAN JOSE – Say this about the best way the San Jose Sharks’ energetic roster is put collectively: When coach Ryan Warsofsky desires to make a change on protection, he has no scarcity of choices.
Sunday, it was once more John Klingberg’s flip to sit down within the press field, because the Sharks ready to face the Boston Bruins at SAP Middle to complete a four-game homestand.
Taking part in on back-to-back days, Warsofsky stated he needed to get recent legs into the lineup Sunday, as rookie Sam Dickinson entered the lineup for Klingberg. However it was clear, too, that Warsofsky thought Klingberg’s miscue helped the Ottawa Senators earn a 3-2 win over the Sharks on Saturday.
Klingberg scored a power-play aim for the Sharks within the first interval. However he was additionally on the ice late and out of place within the third interval when the Senators acquired a 2-on-0 and scored what would turn into the game-winning aim.
As Sharks forwards Will Smith and Philipp Kurashev headed off the ice on an ill-timed line change, Klingberg was too far to the surface when Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson despatched a go proper previous Shakir Mukhamadullin to Drake Batherson.
Batherson handed to Dylan Cozens, whose shot on a forehand-to-backhand transfer was saved by Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic. Klingberg acquired again however was unable to clear the puck off the aim line earlier than Tim Stutzle arrived and poked it throughout with 6:38 left within the third interval for the go-ahead aim.
“We don’t scan well enough as a defense, we don’t read it,” Warsofsky stated Sunday. “It’s a quick game. So, we’ve got to be able to read quick. Again, the change isn’t (ideal), but it’s a 2-1-2 (neutral-zone forecheck). We should be able to defend that pretty easily.”
Klingberg, signed to a one-year, $3 million contract as a free agent in July, was a wholesome scratch for the primary time this season on Tuesday when San Jose hosted Utah.
“I’m a defenseman. I’ve got to know what’s going on behind me,” Klingberg stated after Saturday’s recreation. “However I’m pondering it’s a 1-1-3, so I’m gapping up on (Stutzle) after which they go it, and there’s a breakaway 2-on-0 behind me. So, I’ve acquired to understand that loads faster.
“(Nedeljkovic) obviously makes a huge save, and then I kind of get stuck with my stick in his pad. Otherwise, I’m clearing out (the puck) on the goal line.”
Veteran defenseman Nick Leddy may even be a scratch for a 3rd straight recreation Sunday, because the Sharks had eight out there defensemen towards the Bruins. They’ll quickly have a ninth, as Vincent Iorio winds up his two-week conditioning mortgage with the Barracuda.
The overabundance of blueliners has created a little bit of a tough state of affairs for Warsofsky, who has to decorate one of the best lineup he can for each recreation whereas making certain that Dickinson and Mukhamadullin are nonetheless enjoying and growing the correct approach.
Requested Sunday how tenable it’s to proceed to have 9 defensemen, whereas solely having 12 forwards, Warsofsky stated, “It is what it is. We’ll focus on today, and the guys on the roster, and we’ll make do.”
Not having a spot out there for a thirteenth ahead may quickly drive the Sharks to make a troublesome resolution, as forwards Jeff Skinner and Michael Misa are progressing from their lower-body accidents and would possibly have the ability to return to follow someday subsequent week.
After Skinner was injured towards the Calgary Flames on Nov. 13, the Sharks recalled Zack Ostapchuk from the Barracuda, and Warsofsky has preferred how the 6-foot-4, 212-pound middle has performed ever since.
When Skinner and Michael Misa get wholesome sufficient to play, Ostapchuk could possibly be returned to the AHL. However Warsofsky stated Ostapchuk is “fighting, scratching and clawing to stay here. Competes every shift, skates, gets physical, plays towards his identity. He’s playing like there’s no tomorrow. We need more guys with that (attitude).”
The Sharks have one other difficult week forward: they journey to play the Colorado Avalanche, who’re atop the NHL standings, on Wednesday, return house to play the Vancouver Canucks on Friday, and journey to play the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.
