Feb 21, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks head coach Todd McLellan (middle) during the Stadium Series hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings at Levis Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Thankfully for fans of the San Jose Sharks, February is over. It was a month to forget for the Sharks as they went 3-8-2 during February and San Jose sits in 10th place in the Western Conference.
Week in Review
San Jose concluded the month with two games that were eerily similar and saw the Sharks do something for the first time in franchise history. The Sharks began the week with some much needed rest following the Stadium Series game at Levi’s Stadium.
The Detroit Red Wings visited SAP Center on Thursday, Feb. 26 and the Sharks jumped all over the visitors. San Jose outshot Detroit 14-4 during the first frame and Matt Irwin’s shot through a maze of bodies gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead heading into the break.
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However, the Red Wings would seize control after the break, outshooting the Sharks 31-8 over the final two frames. After the teams traded power play tallies in the second, Detroit got third period goals from Pavel Datsyuk and Luke Glendening, the latter coming with only 1:15 remaining, to give the Red Wings a 3-2 victory. The two goals spoiled an outstanding effort from Sharks netminder Antti Niemi, who made 32 saves on the night.
Two nights later, the Ottawa Senators would pay a visit to San Jose. Once again, the Sharks jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, this time behind Tommy Wingels. Following the same script from the previous game, the two teams would trade second period power play goals as the Sharks would head to the third up 2-1.
Ottawa would come out and take it to San Jose in the third period scoring three goals for a 4-2 victory, adding a final exclamation point on a horrible month of hockey for the Sharks. San Jose finished the month winless at home (0-6-2) and the two losses set a franchise record.
According to STATS, this was the first time in Sharks history that San Jose lost consecutive games in regulation in which they led after two periods.
As per @JoshDubowAP via STATS & @EliasSports, SJ loses 2 in a row in regulation when leading after 2 in each for first time in team history
— Darin Stephens (@SharksStats) March 1, 2015
Looking Ahead
It’s another big week for San Jose as the Sharks try and gain traction in their push for the playoffs.
San Jose will host the Montreal Canadiens tonight at 7 p.m. Montreal currently leads the Eastern Conference with 87 points and will provide a stiff challenge for the Sharks.
One night later, San Jose will begin a critical home-and-home series against the Vancouver Canucks. The Sharks will travel to Vancouver tomorrow night, while the Canucks will return to face San Jose four nights later on Saturday, March 7.
The two games against Vancouver will be pivotal for San Jose’s playoff hopes as the Canucks are currently in second place in the Pacific Division, seven points ahead of the Sharks with one game in hand.
Needless to say, San Jose needs a big start to March if they have any shot of extending their playoff appearance streak to 11 games.