The San Jose Sharks faced a brutal schedule this week, taking on three of the top eleven teams in the NHL. With Paul away, Aaron is joined by Devereaux to break down the defensive lapses that are costing the team points and the one bright spot that has everyone excited for the future.
The Third Period Wall
It has become a frustrating pattern for the Sharks lately. The team plays a competitive forty minutes only to see everything unravel in the final frame.
- Late Game Collapses: The guys discuss the losses to Winnipeg, Minnesota, and New Jersey. In each case, the Sharks were within striking distance before defensive breakdowns led to a string of late goals.
- Energy Levels: Devereaux notes that the team seems to run out of gas, leading to “fragile” play where one mistake quickly snowballs into three or four.
- Coaching Challenges: Aaron highlights the difficulty Ryan Warsofsky faces in keeping a young team composed when the pressure ramps up in the closing minutes.
Yaroslav Askarov is the Real Deal
While the scoreboard was not always kind this week, the performance of Yaroslav Askarov in the AHL has been impossible to ignore.
- Shutout Streak: Askarov continues to dominate for the Barracuda, posting back to back shutouts and showing exactly why Mike Grier traded for him.
- Confidence and Style: The guys talk about his unique, aggressive style and how his confidence seems to radiate through the entire roster when he is in the crease.
- The Wait for a Call-Up: There is plenty of debate on when we will see him back in the NHL. Aaron and Devereaux agree that while the Sharks are being patient, Askarov is making it very hard to keep him down in the minors.
Searching for Consistency
Beyond the goaltending and the third period woes, the Sharks are looking for more out of their veteran leadership.
- Secondary Scoring: The top lines are doing their part, but the guys look at the lack of production from the bottom six and how that puts an unsustainable amount of pressure on the rookies.
- Defensive Vacations: Too many “puck watching” moments in the defensive zone resulted in wide open opportunities for elite opponents this week.
Holiday Wishlist
As the team heads toward the Christmas break, the crew shares what they hope to see under the Sharks’ tree. A bit more defensive discipline and a healthy roster topped the list.
