SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks played with a newfound energy and confidence earlier this month when they wrapped up a three-week, post-Thanksgiving stretch with an impressive 6-2-2 record.
In the ensuing three games, that swagger the Sharks displayed disappeared, replaced by some of the bad habits the team was haunted by during the first four weeks of the regular season.
Few Sharks players are as frustrated about it right now, at least visibly, as Tomas Hertl.
Hertl was noticeably upset during the latter stages of the Sharks’ 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings at SAP Center on Tuesday, including slamming the door shut on San Jose’s bench after a pair of fruitless third-period shifts.
“Sometimes, once in a while, everybody gets frustrated,” Hertl said. “I know I can’t do that, but I’m a competitive guy and I try every night to do the best (I can). But I can’t do it, because a lot of guys are looking to me and I have to handle myself better.”
Hertl can be forgiven, as the Sharks could have used more emotion in a game in which they were mostly dominated for the final two periods.
“We had a good first period and then we stunk for two periods,” Sharks coach David Quinn said. “It was men amongst boys in the second and third periods. (L.A. was) quicker and played with more conviction.”
The Sharks, who host the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday, have now scored just three goals in their last three games, the same goal-per-game pace they were on at the start of the season.
San Jose was once again dominated in the faceoff circle and, similar to their games in October, appeared deflated when they fell behind by two goals. Kings forward Trevor Moore scored at the 4:07 mark of the second period to give Los Angeles a 2-0 lead.
“You can’t feel sorry for yourself,” Quinn said, “and we kind of saw shades of that.”
The Sharks, who were blown out in the faceoff dot in losses to Arizona and Colorado last week, lost 30 of 52 faceoffs to the Kings. Asked if the team missed Nico Sturm, one of the NHL’s leaders in draws who has been out for a week, Hertl said winning a faceoff is not just on the centermen.
“We’re losing too many 50/50 battles, I’ve seen us win a faceoff behind a centerman and they outjump us,” Hertl said. “It’s on all five guys, not just on the centermen. Our wingers or defensemen in the D-zone, I saw a lot of pucks where they could easily get it, but they just jumped through us, and it just can’t happen.
“We have to decide if we want to play with the puck and go out or if we’re going to play D-zone, Same in O-zone. If you lose it, you’re out. So everybody has to be more hungry. It’s not completely on the centermen.”
Quinn agreed.
“Not only that, but the defensemen are not doing what they’re supposed to do on the faceoff wins,” Quinn said. “We’ll be able to practice that (Wednesday). That’s the good news.”
LEARNING EXPERIENCE: The two youngest defensemen on the Sharks’ roster, Henry Thrun, 22, and Nikita Okhotiuk, 23, both probably figure into the Sharks’ plans past this season. But in their first full seasons in the Sharks’ organization, they’re been experiencing their share of growing pains.
Thrun turned the puck over to center Pierre-Luc Dubois on a breakout attempt in the first period, leading directly to a Kings scoring chance, as he and Okhotiuk combined for three giveaways in the first 20 minutes. Per Natural Stat Trick, the pair was on the ice for five scoring chances against at even strength and zero chances for.
Still, Thrun and Okhotiuk seemed to settle down to some degree as the game progressed. Thrun, a left shot, was asked to play on his off-side Tuesday as Okhotiuk is also a left shot.
“Both those guys compete,” Quinn said. “It’s a hard game for them, especially having one on their offside. Really, against (the Kings), it’s nice to have a lefty-righty combination, especially in the neutral zone. But it’s tough. It’s a tough ask for people that are learning as they go in the National Hockey League.”
Okhotiuk has played in 22 of the Sharks’ 23 games since the start of November when he came off injured reserve. Thrun has now played in five straight games since he was recalled from the Barracuda on Dec. 9.
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“They’re huge learning opportunities,” Thrun said. “We’ve played some of the best teams in the league and every team has some world-class players. So for me, it’s really a focused effort every night, making sure that I’m fully physically and mentally dialed in. Because going against the top guys in the world, if you take a second off, they can expose you.
“I’ve felt I’ve grown in that area. Still have some work to do, but I feel like I’m getting better.”
Okhotiuk had 17:17 of ice time and led the Sharks with three blocked shots. Thrun had 18:27 of ice time Tuesday, third-most among all Sharks defensemen.
Asked about Thrun, Quinn said, “He tries his ass off. He’s coachable and these are great experiences for him. Just a little bit more anticipation with the puck. Puck management’s big, just like most young players when they get to this league.”
