DETROIT \u2014 Tonight felt like an opportunity lost for the San Jose Sharks.<\/p>\n
The Sharks, following an uninspiring middle frame where they mustered just four shots, were still tied at two apiece with the Detroit Red Wings, going into the third period.<\/p>\n
This was a chance to steal a point in a back-to-back.<\/p>\n
Instead, the San Jose Sharks gave up a quick third period goal to Dylan Larkin, eventually falling 4-2.<\/p>\n
These are the margins where a playoff spot is won or lost.<\/p>\n
San Jose did play a better final frame, outshooting a quality Detroit side 10-7. They enjoyed some Grade-A scoring chances, which John Gibson turned away.<\/p>\n
But they also didn\u2019t do much with a third period power play and the Larkin goal was off a John Klingberg turnover. Their wounds tonight were a lot self-inflicted.<\/p>\n
Klingberg, as head coach Ryan Warsofsky would note later, wasn\u2019t the only Sharks player to struggle tonight.<\/p>\n
But anyway, this is the kind of game where San Jose will have to start stealing a point or two from. The kind of game that\u2019s a chance for the young Sharks to learn how to dig deep in the clutch when they don\u2019t have their best \u2014 and play that one good period or one shift that they need to steal an extra point.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur guys worked hard,\u201d San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky said. \u201c[But] our brains weren\u2019t turned on, our puck play was horrendous.\u201d<\/p>\n
That might be the difference between a playoff berth or not, for a Sharks squad that could be trying to sneak into the playoffs via the wild card.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully,\u201d Warsofsky said, \u201cit\u2019s a learning moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ryan Warsofsky<\/p>\n
Warsofsky didn’t think much of #SJSharks<\/a> play tonight as a team: “We couldn’t make a play for the life of us\u2026our brains weren’t turned on, our puck play was horrendous.” <\/p>\n I asked about Klingberg, Eklund & Regenda, to name a few: “Some guys had some tough nights. It’s going to\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Will Smith<\/p>\n Collin Graf<\/p>\n Graf, on how the San Jose Sharks can improve for their next game:<\/p>\n Florida, they\u2019re really structured. They\u2019re obviously back-to-back champs. I think for us, it\u2019s just not giving them anything easy and making them work for it. That seems our key to team success, when we make teams go 200 feet and make it hard on them. So that\u2019s what we got to stick to.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n John Klingberg<\/p>\n Credit always to Klingberg, who never shy aways from responsibility: “The 2nd goal, I thought Mis was coming up on the boards, so I was going to give it to him. I’m just making a bad read. I try to pinch [Kasper]. Eventually, I ended up on the outside, and he jumps on the inside.\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t