The Sharks protected Martin Jones better Sunday night than they have all season.
Sunday night served as a test for the Sharks’ struggling defense facing the Flames, last year’s top-scoring Western Conference club. New-again forward Patrick Marleau was one of two Sharks with a positive plus-minus rating heading into the game, and he’d only donned a white-and-teal uniform for one game.
For at least a night, it appeared the Sharks had sorted some issues out, as they beat Calgary 3-1, extending their win streak to two.
Fans’ anxiety regarding the team’s ability to keep the puck out of the net was exemplified Sunday night by the sarcastic cheer goaltender Martin Jones received when he easily caught a puck flipped in towards him from the neutral zone. Although many fans have been quick to place blame on the 29-year-old goaltender, the team defense was atrocious to this point in the season, and the goalie’s struggles are far more a demonstration of defensive failings than personal ones.
The bar was low, but the Sharks put forth their best defensive effort of the season against the Flames, keeping Calgary goalless for the first period, and only allowing one goal in the contest. The Sharks were still outshot 33-20, but they kept most of the Flames’ shots to the periphery.
Their five-on-five play was much improved, being more contained and responsible, as demonstrated by much fewer odd-man chances against than Sharks fans have been accustomed to thus far this season.
The Flames’ goal came on a deflected point shot — a well executed play that, unlike many of the team’s goals against this year, was not the consequence of a total defensive breakdown by the Sharks. Along with a goal against, the second period featured an unforced turnover by Brent Burns leading to a scoring chance, a three-on-one break, and a second shorthanded breakaway chance for the Flames. Luckily for the home team, Calgary failed to capitalize on any of those opportunities.
In spite of these missteps and the shot totals, the Sharks team defense improved. The team sported their best defensive effort of the year, allowing only one goal against, surrendering less than three for the first time this season. The Sharks even scored a shorthanded goal instead of letting one in, although Martin Jones deserves much of the credit as the team did give up two short-handed breakaways in the game.
Move over, coffee: the best way to start a Monday is by watching #SJSharks win highlights! pic.twitter.com/CCAOhWNnel
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) October 14, 2019
Most notably for Sharks fans, unforced errors were much more infrequent during this game. After a win in Chicago, there is hope that the team is bouncing back from its worst start to a season since 1993. Their star offensive defensemen were active and risky at times, but none of their mistakes paid off for Calgary. The team has much to work on and tighten up as the season progresses, but fans can take solace in the fact that they are looking more and more like a cohesive team.
“We’re a work in progress,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “We’re slowly chipping away, and at least we are headed in the right direction.”
One area of play that needs a bit more chipping is the team’s seeming inability to prevent odd-man rushes and scoring chances while on the power play. Stopping transition opportunities at even strength is also an area to clean up, and Sharks fans should acknowledge this improvement in the game against Calgary. However, a power play with the weapons that San Jose boasts should be an asset, not a liability. Giving up scoring chances while up a man should be a rarity, not a common occurrence in the NHL.
Another dark spot on the team is the play of their most tenured defenseman. Marc-Edouard Vlasic’s play has much room for improvement.
He remained a -8 on the season in spite of the team’s offensive output, was on the ice for the second period Calgary goal, and has continued to fall short of his reputation as a shutdown defenseman so far this season.
A Vlasic resurgence is crucial for the Sharks as they are not only limited this season by cap space, but are committed to six more seasons of Vlasic after this year. Should he fail to reestablish himself as a legitimate shutdown defenseman, GM Doug Wilson will be in quite a pickle trying to manage an untradeable asset.
For now, the offensive weapons of Brent Burns, Erik Karlson, Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl can give the Sharks confidence in their scoring ability. The team led the league last year in scoring, and even the loss of Joe Pavelski shouldn’t send them to far toward the league’s bottom. Without an improved defensive effort, though, this recent rebound in the win column may be short-lived.
