Takeaways: How San Jose Sharks regrouped historically ugly loss

San Jose Sharks' Bob Boughner: "If we continue to play as a team like this, good things will happen.” 

SAN JOSE – The contrast for the San Jose Sharks from one home game to the next – just seven days apart – couldn’t have been more glaring.

The last time the Sharks were on their home ice before Saturday was March 5 against the Nashville Predators. They allowed four goals in the third period in an 8-0 loss, their worst shutout defeat at SAP Center since the building opened in 1993.

The Sharks were soundly booed by their own fans, and a brawl erupted in the stands late in the game.

It was ugly.

One week later, many of those same fans – watching a healthier lineup – chanted “Beat L.A.” at every opportunity, and they and the Sharks were in a joyous mood after a 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings.

“Yeah, it’s a lot different team than you saw on the ice against the 8-0 loss,” Sharks coach Bob Boughner said Saturday, adding that, “every team is going to have those, especially when you’re missing nine guys at the time. But we went through a lot of adversity, we’re getting healthy and we’re starting to play well.

“Who knows where that takes us.”

Takeaways from Saturday’s game.

GETTING HEALTHY: As opposed to the Nashville game, easily the low point of the season, the Sharks now have defenseman Erik Karlsson and Jaycob Megna, goalie Adin Hill and forward Jonathan Dahlen all available.

Karlsson has given the Sharks’ offense a badly needed offensive jolt. The nine goals the Sharks have scored in the home-and-home series with Los Angeles were the most they’ve had over a two-game span since late December when they totaled 11 goals in wins over Arizona and Philadelphia.

Karlsson had two assists Thursday and played 20:35 on Saturday.

Megna’s return has provided some badly needed stability to the back end, especially without Mario Ferraro. Megna played 19:13 on Saturday, and in 2022, the Sharks are 6-5-3 with him in the lineup.

Hill was brilliant against the Kings, making 29 saves in his first action since Jan. 22. His best period might have been the first when he was asked to make 15 saves.

“I think both (Karlsson and Hill) injected some energy into the lineup,” Boughner said. “Guys are excited to get some full-time players back. I thought you saw the direct result of that with (Karlsson) in L.A. and Hill tonight. Don’t overlook Megna coming back as well as a huge part of what we’re doing the last two games.”

SYSTEMIC CHANGE: Class was in session for the Sharks earlier this week as they watched a lot of video on a different neutral zone system Boughner wanted to implement.

The Sharks felt they were allowing opposing teams too much control as they came across San Jose’s blue line. That not only paved the way for more scoring chances against, but it also at times prevented the Sharks from cleanly breaking out of their own end.

By using more of a 1-1-3 system, the Sharks were hoping to force the Kings – and other teams – to dump and chase a little more into the offensive zone. The Sharks want to take away the middle of the ice and force forwards wide.

The Sharks have seen what kind of success they’ve had with a 1-3 on the penalty kill, which entered Saturday ranked second in the NHL. They simply use it with a five-man system.

“Because of what we’re doing in the neutral zone, teams are chipping and dumping more and we’re getting to spots, we’re arriving into our d-zone in better spots to help out on those exits,” Boughner said. “We have some automatic exits that we’ve been working on as a team. I’m just trying to simplify it a little bit.

“We changed some things up and the guys have responded. They liked the change and it suits our team better at this point in time.”

“It’s been working out for us in the last two games, I think,” Sharks forward Timo Meier said. “We’re definitely going to get better at it. Definitely a change that’s been going in the right direction.”

KEEPING HOPE ALIVE?: Boughner was asked if he believes his team has one more run left in it this season.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us,” he said. “If we can take that game tonight and the game we played in L.A. the other night and try and bring that to the table on a nightly basis, you’re not going to win every game, but you’re going to give yourself a chance.”

The Sharks enter Sunday nine points out of a playoff spot with 24 games to go. The odds of them making the postseason remain long and figure to be downright astronomical if Tomas Hertl is traded before the NHL trade deadline at noon (PT) on March 21.

There’s also the matter of the schedule. Of the 24 games the Sharks have left, 13 are against teams that are in a playoff spot.

If nothing else, the Sharks hope to keep playing meaningful games well into April.

“This is a big 20-plus games coming down the stretch for a lot of different reasons,” Boughner said. “Obviously we want to keep going and put a run together. I know it’s a huge uphill battle. But there are a lot of guys vying for contracts next year, there are guys looking to secure spots and earn the trust of the coaching staff and guys looking to take bigger roles on this team going into the summer for next year.

“So there’s a lot on the line and if we continue to play as a team like this, good things will happen.”