In Episode 197 of The Fin Factor, Aaron and guest-host Devereux (filling in for Paul) break down a difficult stretch for the San Jose Sharks, including a massive loss in Toronto and a rare victory in Montreal.
The Toronto Loss & “Historically Bad” Stats
- The 7-1 Blowout: The Sharks were dominated in Toronto, losing 7-1 in what the hosts described as an “ugly” game where they were outplayed and out-hustled.
- A Season of Lows: The episode highlights several “backbreaking” statistics, including a league-high 11th time allowing goals less than a minute apart and being shut out for the 7th time this season—matching a franchise record for road shutouts with over half the season remaining.
- Historical Context: A fan-submitted analysis noted that the Sharks were on pace for their third-worst points-per-game season in franchise history, trailing only the inaugural “Cow Palace” seasons.
Breaking the Losing Streak
- Win in Montreal: The Sharks managed to snap a 12-game losing streak by beating the Montreal Canadiens.
- The “Loser Point” Reality: Despite the win, the hosts pointed out that Montreal actually had 20 more points in the standings than the Sharks at the time, largely due to their ability to push games to overtime and secure the “loser point”.
Roster and Injury Updates
- Logan Couture: The hosts expressed frustration that the team’s captain still hadn’t suited up past the halfway mark of the season, noting it was much harder to fill his void than anticipated.
- Goaltending Struggles: Kaapo Kahkonen was pulled in the Toronto game, and while Mackenzie Blackwood performed slightly better, the hosts blamed the “overall team defense” for letting the goalies down with “backbreaking” goals.
Looking Ahead: The “Cookie Bet”
- Debbie’s Challenge: A regular viewer named Debbie Smith made a pact with the show: if the Sharks can string together a three-game winning streak, she will bring homemade cookies to the set for the hosts to eat during an episode. Aaron predicted this might actually happen once Logan Couture returns.
