The San Jose Sharks are in a rough stretch, and not only because they’ve lost their last 10 games. A brutal series of injuries has made the roster incredibly thin, forcing them to look deep within their organization to find players who can fill out the lineup. This has made it increasingly difficult for the team to conclude the season on a positive note, with one game remaining. But the end of the season couldn’t come at a better time.
Sharks’ Lineup Management Becoming a Challenge
The string of injuries has been tough on players who don’t know their role on a nightly basis, and a coaching staff that is trying to juggle an ever-changing rotation of players. When the lines and defense pairings aren’t somewhat consistent from game to game, skaters have to adjust to new players and partners.
In their loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Monday (April 14), the injury issue was so bad that three San Jose Barracuda players had to fly from San Jose to Vancouver the morning of the game after the Sharks recalled them on an emergency basis. The coaching staff didn’t have it any easier trying to juggle a new lineup just a few hours before puck drop. The Sharks have many flaws, but this has only made things worse.
Young Sharks Aren’t Getting Valuable Experience
Several injured Sharks are young players who deserved a late-season look in the NHL. Shakir Mukhamadullin should have been one of the team’s most important defensemen to close the season, but a rough hit from Frank Vatrano of the Anaheim Ducks gave him an upper-body injury that ended his campaign. Over the Sharks’ final games, Mukhamadullin would have received substantial ice time and run the power play, giving the coaching staff a good look at what he had to offer.
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Among the forwards, Zack Ostapchuk suffered an injury just as he was trying to find his footing in the lineup, while Thomas Bordeleau, who the Sharks recalled in large part becuase of other injuries, has now picked up an ailment himself. He could have capitalized on his opportunity to show the coaching staff he deserves a more permanent role on the team. That chance lasted just one game. After the trade deadline, one of the main bright spots should have been the open spots for the Sharks’ young players to prove their worth. Once again, injuries are making that a much more difficult task.
Sharks’ Limited Roster Leading to Tough Losses
The Sharks’ depleted lineup is the biggest factor in their losing streak. Either the offense or the defence can’t produce enough while the other side desperately holds on to keep the team in the game. The former was on display in the loss to the Canucks, when the Sharks managed just 16 shots on goal while allowing 37. The blue line and goalie Alexandar Georgiev did everything they could to keep the game close but couldn’t keep the Canucks at bay and eventually allowed Vancouver to win it in overtime.
On defense, we can look to the 8-7 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild. Macklin Celebrini’s first career hat trick and a furious comeback by the offense to make up for a rough defensive night weren’t enough. In a few games, both the offense and the defense weren’t up to par. Three of the 10 losses in their current streak were by four goals or more. With a fuller roster, the Sharks might have won the two games in overtime and maybe a few others to end the season heading in a better direction.
Just a few weeks ago, the Sharks carried significant optimism thanks to a few players who were ready to carry them to the finish line. Now, with so many injured, they’re just holding on for their final game and hoping their situation doesn’t get worse.
