San Jose Sharks Must Use Off Days to Get Back on Track

By Scott Peceny
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Things were looking great for the San Jose Sharks when they jumped out to a 7-0-0 start to the 2013 season.

Now finding themselves at 7-4-3, the Sharks are looking for any explanation as to what went wrong.

The Sharks now have until Tuesday, Feb. 19 to figure things out.

Last night’s 4-1 drubbing at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks was just the latest in a series of seven straight losses for San Jose.  Some of the losses have been acceptable- there’s certainly no shame in losing to the Blackhawks on the road.  But being tossed around by the Columbus Blue Jackets by a score of 6-2 is unacceptable.

After starting out the season with a whopping nine goals in five games, winger Patrick Marleau has disappeared, scoring just once in San Jose’s last nine. That single goal is Marleau’s only point during that span.  Marleau must regain his early season magic over the next three days.

The Sharks’ defense also needs to be more consistent.  Outside of Brad Stuart and Marc-Edouard Vlasic, no Sharks defenseman has a positive rating.

This Sharks team has talent, as they proved in the first seven games of this season.  With a leader like Joe Thornton and an experienced coach like Todd McLellan, the Sharks can certainly weather this storm.

Not that things get easier right away.

San Jose’s road trip continues on Tuesday when they travel to St. Louis to take on the Blues.  Then the Sharks will face Chicago on the road once again before concluding this six-game road trip against the Dallas Stars.

After a long, tough road trip, it might be nothing more than home cooking that the Sharks need to right the ship.

 

Follow me on twitter @ScottPeceny

Share On FacebookShare StumbleUpon

You May Also Like