SAN JOSE, Calif. — After two embarrassing losses at the Shark Tank, hitting the road for three games in four days may be exactly what this team needs.
The San Jose Sharks finished their training camp and began the regular season in Europe. Cologne, Germany was the first stop for an exhibition game and then on to Stockholm, Sweden for back to back games against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
On the flight home this team looked to be off to fair start to the 2010/2011 NHL campaign. They earned three of a possible four points losing the second game in overtime. The newly appointed captain Joe Thornton scored two goals in as many games and appears to be shooting the puck more, which is something he has been criticized for in the past. The power play was successful after being non-existent in the pre-season and youngster Logan Couture scored the game winning goal in the first contest.
Since then the tides have turned for the Sharks. The home opener in San Jose came a week after the team’s last game overseas so rust is an excuse, but at this level the players and coaches will never buy into that. In fact Saturdays game against the Atlanta Thrashers started off as well as it possibly could for the Sharks. They came out like gang busters pressing the road team and took a two goal lead into the first intermission. Since that point to say the wheels have fallen off would be putting it lightly.
From the start of the second period versus Atlanta San Jose have given up two short handed goals. Both goals were the other team’s first of the game and have been turning points in the home losses. In that time the Sharks have been outscored 9-2 and had six unanswered goals against.
Excuse or not this team looks very rusty and the mistakes they are making have been costly. The scoring chances have been there but the finish has not. Passes are in the skates, the defense have made poor judgment when they pinch and the turnovers have killed them.
Here is what Joe Thornton had to say after Tuesday night’s 5-2 loss to Carolina “I thought every goal they scored was on our stick for a little bit and we just gave it up, it just went in the back of the net. You’re not going to win games when you give the other team Grade A chances when it’s on your stick. It should be a firm play and away you go. We’re making mental mistakes that shouldn’t happen. Mistakes happen but we’ve got to correct them now.”
Coach Todd MacLellan had this to say about the lack of offense “If you look at the offensive chances, the number of empty nets that we missed tonight, and the number of chances around the net offensively in the last couple games, we haven’t been polished.”
Clearly this team has underachieved so far but that is no reason to press the panic button. First off when you play at the high level that these players do winning games is all about playing together and finding rhythm with one another. In this early season the Sharks coaching staff has made changes to the lines to try and spread out the scoring and make them a more difficult team to play against. In theory is a great idea and should be given some time to work. The line that has created the most scoring chances this year has been Logan Couture surrounded by Dany Heatley and Ryan Clowe.
For years Evgeni Nabakov was the goaltender and the team knew how he played and how to gel with their long time net minder. This season they have two new players between the pipes that they have to become better acquainted with and vice versa. This transformation doesn’t happen overnight and it will take time. So far the goaltending has not been great but that is not where the blame should be laid for the home losses.
Lastly, and perhaps the biggest reason this team has stumbled out of the gate is they are missing the team’s former captain Rob Blake. This man was the leader of the Sharks who brought a calm cool presence to the locker room and lead by example on the ice. His booming shot from the point on the power play has been missed along with the valuable minutes he ate up. The Sharks decided not to replace him but to let the role be filled from within. Well those are big skates to be filled and they won’t ever be replaced, rather this crew will have to learn how to get the job done without him and that is going to take time and patience.
The Sharks leave today for a three game road trip with stops in Colorado, Edmonton and Calgary. The team will have a chance to find their rhythm on the road playing three games in four days. It is early in the season so fatigue will not be a factor.
Taking time to figure the habits of new teammates and offensive line mates is vital to a team’s success. Once these guys get on the same page the potential for offensive output is exciting for hockey fans. Let’s hope that they gel as a unit sooner rather than later or the coaching staff will be forced to blow it up go back to two top heavy lines and two checking units.
The Sharks face-off against Colorado Thursday at 6pm pacific.
Keep your sticks on the ice,
Contact the writer at: Cam.Gore@prohockeynews.com
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