Sharks face yet another reality check vs. Stars after second consecutive loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
Advertisement
DALLAS — The San Jose Sharks are facing lots of reality checks recently.
This was a different sort of splash of water to the face, in a closer-than-the-score 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars.
Two things stood out, as the Sharks fell back to 13-13-3.
In the first period, the Sharks were a step behind from the drop of the puck, ceding the first seven shots and a Jason Robertson power play goal through the first 14 minutes of action.
What I didn’t like was, I wouldn’t call it a refusal, but when the game’s not going your way and your east-west passes aren’t connecting, I believe a more mature team plays more north-south. San Jose didn’t do that, going for a steady diet of passes into the slot that a disciplined Dallas squad was turning away.
Advertisement
Finally, on their fourth shot of the game, 28 minutes in, the Sharks finally broke through, by going north-south (or south-north) and crashing the net.
Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast