The Sharks have made history — unfortunately.
With their 3-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday at SAP Center dropping their record to 0-3-2, the Sharks became the first NHL, NBA, NFL or MLB team to remain winless through their first five games in four consecutive seasons, per Sportradar.
“I’d give up one of my children for a f–king win,” coach Ryan Warsofsky said to reporters after Saturday’s loss. “We’re very, very frustrated and we’re going to keep working at it.”
Last season, the first under Warsofsky, the Sharks began the season losing their first nine games. The previous season, they started out losing their first 11 games, tying the longest losing streak to start a season in NHL history.
“It’s hard, especially when you play some good games, do some good things,” center Macklin Celebrini said after Saturday’s loss. “I don’t know, it just feels like it hasn’t really connected yet.”
Since the beginning of the 2022-23 NHL season, the Sharks have posted a 61-151-39 overall record with a 24.3 win percentage, the lowest win percentage in that span.
San Jose became the first team in NHL history to lose its first nine games in back-to-back seasons last year.
“What, are we going to quit? We’re five games into this thing,” Warsofsky said. “What’s happened has happened, we got to work. I got to get this team to improve and individuals to improve. It’s on me.”
The Sharks begin a four-game road trip Tuesday at the New York Islanders. If they don’t manage to win a game in the next four, that would secure a nine-game losing streak to begin the season in three consecutive campaigns.
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