The San Jose Sharks falter late in the season, letting a strong playoff position slip further away under mounting pressure.
On Tuesday, the Sharks faced off against the Predators in Nashville, unfortunately succumbing to a brutal 6-3 loss. While it was not officially an elimination scenario, the game carried playoff-level stakes and pressure.
The Sharks knew earning one point could steady their playoff push, while losing would extend their streak to five games. Instead, the game reinforced issues that have defined their stretch as of late, such as poor puck management.
On Nashville’s opening goal just 2:34 into the period, a failed zone exit set the tone. Sam Dickinson fanned on an attempt to clear, leading directly to a turnover picked up by Filip Forsberg. After a quick back-and-forth between Fedor Svechkov and Jonathan Marchessault, Forsberg got the goal with a tip-in.
While Dickinson is still young and developing, these are the kind of margins that set the tone and momentum early on.
Head coach Ryan Warsofsky emphasized postgame that responsibility extended beyond one player, saying, “It’s not just Sam [Dickinson]. It’s our whole team. I’m not going to point to single guys.”
Team Teal managed to tie the game following a neutral-zone sequence with Barclay Goodrow and Zach Ostapchuk pushing the puck forward. Adam Gaudette’s redirection in front of the net tipped the puck in, with Shakir Mukhamadullin and Mario Ferraro logging assists.
Just a minute and 24 seconds later, Nashville’s Matthew Wood took the lead again, with Marchessault picking up another assist.
Forsberg forced another turnover as the surge began, and Roman Josi scored on a wrister for the second straight goal. Nashville scored twice more with no significant response from the Sharks. Just after Josi’s goal, Luke Evangelista scored on a deflection, assisted by Ryan O’Reilly and Brady Skjei. In the closing minutes of the opening period Skjei’s slap shot, assisted by O’Reilly, made it 5-1, Nashville.
In the second, Team Teal generated several good looks and scoring chances. Will Smith, Macklin Celebrini, and even d-man John Klingberg took notable shots on net, with Klingberg hitting the post.
With under ten in the period, Steven Stamkos fired a nice wrist shot as Forsberg and Marchessault added more points. Nashville had nothing but time and room to make a play, while the Sharks failed to compete for the puck. The Sharks’ lapse allowed Stamkos, 36, to score his 35th goal of the season while San Jose struggles for consistency.
San Jose managed to get one back with the Eklund–Celebrini–Smith line. After a little battle in front of the net, Smith came down the middle and scored with a wrist shot.
Going into the third, the Sharks outshot the Preds 20-15 and looked to tighten up entries. Smith scored again, this time on a line with Igor Chernyshov and Michael Misa, cutting Nashville’s lead in half.
Chernyshov, in his first game back since sustaining a head injury in Montreal in mid-March, picked up an assist. Defenseman Vincent Desharnais not only recorded an assist on the play but also led the team with five hits.
The Sharks lost despite outshooting Nashville 30-19, out-hitting them 28-20 and winning 52.3% of faceoffs. Still, without an aggressive forecheck, secondary scoring, and disciplined puck management, the Sharks failed to come back.
With just a 9.3% chance of making the playoffs, according to MoneyPuck.com, the Sharks face a steep climb to reach the postseason. The Sharks can end the season positively with higher compete, sharper execution, and consistent effort from everyone.
San Jose has 12 games remaining in the season, seven on home ice. They finish a road trip with a matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets (38-22-11) on Saturday.
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Featured image courtesy of San Jose Sharks on NHL.com
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