The Nashville Predators’ western road trip continues with another late game, this one against the floundering San Jose Sharks.
You name it and it’s gone wrong for the Sharks on the ice this season–well, except for their goaltending, which has been about average under the circumstances. Unfortunately for the goalies, those circumstances include a shockingly bad team defense that’s left them tied for most goals allowed in the league. Starter Mackenzie Blackwood has managed a sv% of .898, while backup Kaapo Kähkönen has exceeded expectations with a .905.
Everywhere else on the ice, it’s been dire. The Sharks have also scored the fewest goals in the league–five fewer than the still-tanked Chicago Blackhawks, and twenty-four fewer than the snakebitten Washington Capitals–and their leading scorer, Tomáš Hertl, is currently on IR. Mikael Granlund leads the team’s active players in points with 31 and assists with 25, while winger Fabian Zetterlund is the goals leader with 15.
The Sharks’ offense has struggled to get anything going, and, once they’ve gotten it going, the shooters have struggled to score. The injured Hertl is their best offensive play-driver, and even that isn’t saying much this season; the team is deep underwater. They’ve also struggled on special teams, even with a recent run of good penalty-killing–not surprising, since their even-strength offensive and defensive struggles are also reflected with odd numbers.
In spite of that, their improbably bad luck might be turning around. Since a little before the All-Star break, they started getting more shots and more saves, and they’ve actually managed to win five of their last ten games, with a sixth game ending in an overtime loss. It’s close to the best streak they’ve had all year (they were 6-2-2 in the last ten at one point in December).
The game airs at 9 PM Central on Bally Sports South and 102.5 The Game. It’s going to be another late one, so grab that coffee and settle in.