The San Jose Sharks are 14-32-5 after the first 51 games of the season, a record low for the franchise. With less than 30 games left in the regular season, some players have stepped up in the face of adversity.
In overall games played, goaltenders MacKenzie Blackwood and Kaapo Kahkonen have come up big for the Sharks. The team’s netminders lead as top performers in both wins and losses. Blackwood has been the top performer 14 times, while Kahkonen is not far behind with 10 performances in the ranking.
With offensive production being inconsistent at best, the goalies have kept the Sharks in it many times. 45 out of 51 games have seen the Sharks outshot. Even when the team manages to get more shots on goal, they often still lose.
The sole game producing more shots on net and winning was against the Detroit Red Wings (6-5 with 36-31 SOG).
Team Teal broke a 12-game losing streak with tied shots on goal versus the Montreal Canadiens (3-2, 35 even shots). The remaining 12 wins still saw the Sharks outshot.
In over half of the games played, the team has not managed to score more than two goals (34, including overtime or shootout losses).
Adding onto a lackluster offensive dooming the Sharks, injuries have also been an issue this season.
Early season injuries and stats
Veteran Shark’s captain Logan Couture seemed ruled out early in the season with an undisclosed injury. By late December, coach David Quinn told the press there was “a level of optimism that we haven’t had before,” about his return.
After an uncertain recovery process, the captain made his awaited return for a 5-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Couture also revealed his ailment ahead of the game as a groin injury called osteitis pubis.
Forward Alexander Barabanov had a broken finger take him out for 18 games at the beginning of the season.
Barabanov had previously logged 15 goals and 47 points in 68 games during 2022-2023. To date for this season, the winger has nine points in 31 games played with a poor plus-minus of -18. A healthy Barabanov could see the Sharks with a more stable lineup.
Defenseman Matt Benning underwent successful hip surgery and was declared out for the season on Jan. 4. Benning had two assists and 29 blocked shots in 14 games.
Center Nico Sturm was also plagued with injuries from lower-body to wrist. Sturm returned to play during the same time as Couture to help lead the team to a win. In his last five games, the centerman has one goal and one assist.
Filip Zadina also suffered a lower-body injury early in the season that saw him miss several games. In December, Zadina was on a three-game point streak and played top line alongside Tomas Hertl and William Eklund. With 13 points in 46 games played and a -26 stat, the forward has mostly seen fourth line “action.”
Current injuries
Do-everything defenseman Mario Ferraro was placed on injury reserve on Jan. 29. The d-man is expected to be out until at least Feb. 14.
Players considered day-to-day are Hertl, Barabanov, and defenseman Ty Emberson.
Team effort
While the team struggles in a rebuild year, leadership and team rallying highlights an otherwise low season.
In losses, alternate captain Hertl, Mikael Granlund, and Ferraro have been the top performer three times each. Other notable players who have made marks in the scoresheet for top performer are Mike Hoffman and Fabian Zetterlund.
Hertl, who was rightfully named the Sharks’ rep for the 2024 All-Star game, leads the team with 34 points and 15 goals. Granlund is close behind his fellow forward with 29 points (24 assists and five goals). As one of the best defensemen on the Sharks’ core, Ferraro trails with 14 points.
The Sharks return to play on Feb. 14 against the Winnipeg Jets. Hopefully Team Teal will have more healthy Sharks in the lineup by then.
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Featured image courtesy of San Jose Sharks on NHL.com
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- Source: https://thegamehaus.com/nhl/san-jose-sharks-after-the-first-51-games-of-the-season/2024/02/09/
