San Jose Sharks Stumble Home Following Seven-Game Trip

Mar 29, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) makes a save against San Jose Sharks right wing Melker Karlsson (68) during the shootout at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 3-2 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

It was billed as the road trip from hell after the San Jose Sharks began their season-defining road trip with a 1-3-0 record after four games. However, it resembled a road trip into purgatory as the Sharks gained points in the final three games to conclude their trip at 3-3-1.

The problem: San Jose needed to go at least 5-2-0 or 6-1-0 to have any chance of making the playoffs. Instead, in the biggest game of the year against Winnipeg, San Jose allowed a goal 70 seconds into their road trip and would allow three goals in the first period. Ultimately, the Sharks would fall 5-2 on the night, thus ending any realistic hopes they had at making a late postseason run.

The frustration would build throughout the road trip as San Jose went 1-3-0 against the Canadian teams before bouncing back with consecutive wins in Detroit and Philadelphia. However, when presented with a golden opportunity in overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Sharks couldn’t execute. San Jose limped home following a 3-2 shootout loss last night from a road trip that left them exactly where they started: out of the mix.

San Jose won just enough games to keep them from bottoming out in the standings, and improving their draft position for next year, but lost enough games to not make any considerable improvement to their current standing. The Sharks are stuck in the middle, a place no NHL franchise wants to be.

General manager Doug Wilson’s whole mantra has been to rebuild on the fly while remaining competitive. The problem is the two are contradictory to each other and the two forces have weighed against San Jose all season.

The recent road trip was a perfect illustration as their record probably would’ve been acceptable if this seven-game road trip was at the beginning of the season. However, when the best was needed from the Sharks, they couldn’t produce. They weren’t a deep-enough hockey team and they succumbed to the daunting task they created for themselves. A more experienced team knows when to raise their play, something this team failed to do on a consistent basis.

Now, San Jose looks to wrap up their final six games trying to salvage whatever pride this beaten-down franchise can. It’ll be another long summer of soul-searching in the South Bay as the Sharks continue their quest for the right ingredients.