The Sharks (7-9-1) currently sit in sixth place in the Pacific Division. It’s a disappointing start after the team made great strides in its rebuild last season, when it went 39-35-8 and finished four points behind the Kings for the Western Conference’s second wild card to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
This season, San Jose ranks 28th in the NHL in goals per game (2.53) and is tied for 27th in goals allowed per game (3.53).
“That has to change. We can’t let that seep into our game, but I mean, we have to be frustrated and unhappy with the way we’re playing,” captain Macklin Celebrini said. “We know what we have in this room and we believe in each other. We are a team first and foremost.”
When asked what the message of the players-only meeting was, Celebrini said it was private.
“Obviously things aren’t going well right now, so we need to find a solution,” he said.
Sherwood told reporters the team lacked a strong connection on the ice.
“Just work. When you work, things open up, (the) game slows down a little bit,” Sherwood said. “We show some at times, and we have a lot of good players, but it’s about being a good team right now. I think it’s a mindset. It’s a maturity that we need to go there.”
Coach Ryan Warsofsky said he appreciates that the team’s leadership is stepping up to try to galvanize the group.
“It’s on them. It shows we have some leadership here, and we’re all frustrated,” Warsofsky said.
The Sharks will need to channel those frustrations soon, given their schedule isn’t going to get any easier in the near future. They will conclude their road trip against the Minnesota Wild on Friday and the Dallas Stars on Saturday.
“We need to look in the mirror and do something,” Sherwood said. “(The Kings were leading) 6-2, they put their power play on the line. (Artemi) Panarin’s blocking shots, celebrating on his bench. It’s disrespectful. Until we do something, things won’t change unless we do something about it.”
Gn sports
