Remember that seven-game win streak the San Jose Sharks began the season with?
It's a distant memory now, as the team has now lost four straight: the Sharks are now in second place in the Pacific Division and fourth in the Western Conference, as the National Hockey League season enters its middle phases.
Losses to Chicago and Phoenix at home last week was not the way for San Jose to embark on a six-game road trip through Columbus, Nashville, Chicago (twice), St. Louis and Dallas.
The 5-3 defeat at the hands of the Blackhawks was particularly disheartening: the Sharks blew an early 2-0 lead, and they did so ridiculously. After a Chicago goal to cut the score to 2-1, San Jose scored again to re-establish their two-goal lead.
But two goals in 42 seconds by the Blackhawks tied the score, and the Sharks never scored again. Chicago (10-0-2) may have the best record in the NHL right now, but on home ice, San Jose had no business blowing that game in such a manner.
The loss to Phoenix in the overtime shootout after a 0-0 tie at the end of regulation and the overtime period was just a coin-flip moment, but the Sharks' inability to score as defenses have tightened up is a recurring problem.
San Jose scored 23 goals in its first five games; since then, they've scored just nine goals in six games -- and three of those came in the first period against Chicago.
The offensive stagnancy puts pressure on goaltender Antti Niemi to be perfect, and he almost was against the Coyotes on Saturday night. He's been pretty good in goal (6-1-2, 1.82 GAA) so far this year, overall, even with the lapses against the Blackhawks.
The problem really has been the offense, so facing the Bluejackets -- even on the road -- tonight could help. Columbus (3-7-2) is in last place in the Western Conference, and they've surrendered 39 goals in 12 games.
If the Sharks can't get the offense going tonight, they're really in a lot of trouble over the next two weeks away from HP Pavilion.
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