The San Jose Sharks came crashing back down to earth in their 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
The visitors looked calm, mature, and ready to win a road game in the NHL. Their suffocating style and constant physicality provided the Sharks no time and space to make plays.
Here are three takeaways from the loss.
Young, Wild, & Free won’t cut it in the NHL
San Jose Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky was simple and to the point during his postgame presser. He was understandably furious about how his team played.
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“We couldn’t win a puck at all,” Warsofsky said. “Defensively, offensively, and when you don’t win pucks, you basically just skate and chase it. That’s what we did.”
The power play scored a goal from John Klingberg, but continued to struggle following the goal. Warsofsky said the top unit is ad-libbing plays rather than sticking to their game plan.
“We were just disconnected. We got the one, [and] you would think that would get us going,” Warsofsky said. “But we ad lib a lot of things and whatnot, [which] makes us unconnected. You don’t have success when you do that.”
Sharks forward Will Smith echoed the same message as his head coach.
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“I think we just need more shots, to be honest,” Smith said. “When we’re in that attack mentality, we can be a scary PP. That’s another spot that we’re trying to work on.”
Puck retrievals must improve for the Sharks
The San Jose Sharks struggled all night to recover pucks along the boards. After a strong start, the Senators slowly turned it back their way.
Especially in the second period, Ottawa started to really take over possession and momentum. Klingberg explained what he saw was wrong during a key period.
“That’s exactly what happens in the second period. You’re gonna get it deep behind them a lot of times, but then you’re going for a change and they’re gonna have time to regroup and get it the other way,” Klingberg said.
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“That’s the battle in the second period. The team that takes care of the puck the most they’re gonna play more on the offensive side of the game. We were tired. We had longer shifts in the second period, and as we’re getting it out and getting it deep, everyone has to change. We’re not getting on the forecheck, so it’s easy breakouts for them.”
Bad changes by the Sharks directly led to the Senators’ second and third goals.
Reaves is protecting the team, but the Sharks need to take momentum from it
Ryan Reaves got revenge for San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro by fighting Senators forward Hayden Hodgson.
Hodgson knocked Ferraro out of the first period early with a high hit. Although Ferraro would return to the game in the second period, Ryan Reaves wouldn’t forget the dirty play.
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“I can’t say enough good things about him,” Smith said of Reaves. “He’s been awesome for this team, and he brings great energy.”
While Reaves has brought that energy, the Senators seem to have taken more momentum from the fight than the Sharks. The second period marked the beginning of Team Teal’s downfall.
“I’ve played with Revo on two other teams before, and he’s a very respectable teammate,” Klingberg said. “That’s what he’s going to do, to help your team and step up for your teammates.”
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