San Jose Sharks: Streaky Sharks Are At It Again

The 2015-16 version of the San Jose Sharks has been a tough one to figure out.

On the positive side, the Sharks are 14-12-0 through their first 26 games and sit in second place in the Pacific Division with 28 points. That’s pretty good for a team many people had question marks about heading into this season, and one that has dealt with their fair share of injuries in the early going.

However, San Jose has been a streaky squad, and they are currently on another down streak as their roller-coaster season continues.

The Sharks kicked off the Peter DeBoer era hot out of the gates, rattling off four straight wins, and, in the process, Martin Jones set a franchise record with a shutout streak of 234:33. That’s a very impressive start and a great way to make a first impression with your new club.

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Unfortunately, San Jose was hit with a string of injuries, highlighted by losing Logan Couture with a fracture fibula. What followed was a three-game losing streak in which the Sharks were outscored by a 14-4 margin, and they would end up losing five of six games as their record was an even 5-5-0 after their first 10 games.

After sputtering along in their next five games, San Jose sat one game under the .500 mark as they embarked on their season-high six-game road trip. It’s on the road where the Sharks have played their best hockey this season, and that trend was on full display as San Jose went on a historic streak, winning all six games for the first time in the organization’s 25-year history.

That trip seemed to reinvigorate the Sharks and the fan base as San Jose shot up the division standings into a first place tie with the Los Angeles Kings.

Once again, the Sharks have been unable to sustain the momentum as they have currently lost their last three games and four of their past five games. It’s been maddening to follow this team as you see the flashes of how good this Sharks group can be. San Jose is second in the entire league, having amasses 10 road victories this year, but their home record is one of the worst in the NHL at 4-8-0. How can a team be so good on the road, yet so poor at home? It’s a question that has befuddled Sharks fans all season.

Now, the injuries have taken played a role in San Jose’s inconsistent play to this point. It’s clear this team can’t sustain many hits to their regular lineup, especially on the blue line where DeBoer only has faith in five defensemen.

Next: Sharks Activate Logan Couture From Injured Reserve

The good news for the Sharks is they will be getting some key pieces back as Couture looks ready to return to action tonight against the Calgary Flames. With the Sharks approaching full strength, now is the time to begin to see what kind of team this San Jose unit is.

The Sharks have a nice opportunity the next two nights as they face the Flames and the Edmonton Oilers. If San Jose can bag four points here, it will be a nice boost as the Sharks continue to strive for some sort of consistency.

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