Sharks current record: 9-21-3 (.318)
Sharks projected record: 24-54-4 (.317)
NHL record for worst season in 82-game history: 14-57-11 (.238)

The San Jose Sharks had their second-worst week of the season since we started the Sharks Sterility Stare way back in October, going 0-3 with blowout losses against Colorado, Los Angeles, and Arizona by a combined 15-5 score. Just when we thought it was safe to go back in the water, the team really turned in some stinkers. Let’s break down each one of the losses and see what went wrong last week for the Sharks.

December 17 at Colorado: The Avalanche jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, thanks to 2 popwer-play goals. San Jose does have one of the worst penalty-kill units this season, currently just at 72.8 percent—which is 29th in a 32-team NHL. Therefore, we should surmise that the coaching staff wants to emphasize cleaner play by the Sharks. In this game, San Jose totaled 31 penalty minutes, though, so … fail. The 6-2 final score represents an uphill battle for the team, obviously, even if the Avs got an empty netter.

December 19 vs. Los Angeles: The Kings are one of the best teams this year so far, but this 4-1 loss at home still was disheartening. San Jose was facing L.A.’s backup goaltender, and the Sharks still only put 16 shots on goal. They fell behind 4-0 gradually before finally scoring with under 2 minutes left in the game. The Kings scored in the first period on the power play, and they also got a short-handed empty netter late to establish that 4-goal margin before San Jose finally scored on a meaningless power play. Overall, this was just a seemingly lifeless effort in front of the home crowd, and that is not what the fans paid/wanted to see.

December 21 vs. Arizona: The Coyotes are a solid team, but if the Sharks want to make a dent in the season, these are the kinds of games San Jose needs to win at home. It didn’t happen, as the teams skated to a scoreless first period before Arizona scored thrice in the second to take a 3-1 lead into the final 20 minutes. The Sharks scored quickly in the third to make it a 3-2 game, but in a war of attrition for the final 19 minutes, it was the Coyotes outworking the home team. Even though San Jose had only 6 PIM, the key goal of the game for Arizona came on the PP, extending the lead to 2 goals in the final frame. That crushed. The ‘Yotes later got another goal to seal the 5-2 win, as the Sharks put 31 shots on goal in this one. Ouch.

Conclusion: We could call it a penalty-kill week and chalk it up to youth, but it’s more than that. It’s energy, too, which shouldn’t be a problem on a younger team. The team was undisciplined against Colorado, listless against Los Angeles, and unlucky against Arizona. Nothing you can do about luck, other than hope it evens out over the course of an 82-game season. But the discipline and energy issues can be addressed by the coaches. We expect things to be better in the upcoming holiday week.

San Jose has 4 more games before 2024, and they’re all looking tough: at Vancouver, at L.A., home against Edmonton, and at Colorado. The Canucks have the best record in the NHL right now, while the Kings and the Avs are good teams. The Oilers have firepower, but they lack solid defense. The Sharks need to win at least once in this stretch, or else they risk a snowball effect gaining ugly momentum heading into January.