This is starting to look eerily similar to last year for the San Jose Sharks, and that’s not good news for Sharks fans who thought this year would be different than last season’s debacle. After beginning the season with four straight victories, San Jose has now dropped three straight games, the latest being a 4-1 defeat at the hands of their bitter rivals from Los Angeles.
The scary part for anyone associated with team teal is the fact that many of the same issues that plagued this team in 2014-15 are starting to re-surface during their latest run of play. San Jose allowed the Los Angeles Kings dictate the pace and play the cleaner game. The Kings capitalized on the Sharks mistakes in running out to a 3-0 lead, and the problems were the same that arose during the 4-0 defeat against the New York Rangers.
After a fairly even start to the game, Los Angeles scored first off a simple defensive zone win and chip high off the boards. For some reason, Brent Burns tried to pinch up in center ice, but the puck flew over his head allowing Tyler Toffoli to walk in on an odd-man rush. Toffoli made a great stick-handling move around Martin Jones to bury the puck in the open net.
The second goal might’ve been the back-breaker in this one, as Milan Lucic tipped home a power-play goal with 28 seconds remaining in the first. It was a big goal as San Jose was the better team in the first, outshooting Los Angeles 18-8 in the period.
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The Sharks seemed to sense a let down following the first, and another odd-man opportunity when too many men were caught down low allowed Jeff Carter to fire one between the legs of Jones. Joel Ward was able to get one back for San Jose late in the second, and the Sharks had a 5-on-3 chance that they couldn’t capitalize on. Before the Ward goal, the Sharks had allowed 10 consecutive goals dating all the way back to when they held a 3-2 lead against the New York Islanders.
San Jose wasn’t able to get any closer as Jhonas Enroth was big in net for the Kings, stopping 39 of the 40 shots he faced. A fluky goal from Carter midway through the third sealed the deal when his shot deflected off the end boards and ricocheted in off Jones.
It was another gut-punch for the Sharks who had to survive another injury scare after Joe Thornton slammed his head on the ice after a hard check into the boards late in the first. After sitting out the beginning of the second, Thornton was able to return to the ice.
San Jose missed a big chance to assume sole possession of first place in the division, while also placing six points between themselves and Los Angeles. Instead, the sloppy defensive play bit the Sharks yet again, as the Kings were able to even up the season series at one game apiece. The Kings were the sharper team capitalizing on two of their four power play chances, while the Sharks were 0-for-5.
San Jose needs to get back to what made them successful during the first four games, which was being strong on the puck and making the simple play. The Sharks need to clean up their defensive zone coverage and quit allowing odd-man rushes at will.
They’ll get another chance to snap their losing streak on Saturday night against the Carolina Hurricanes, but if they continue to turn the puck over, the results will look very similar to this one.
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