Season of hurdles ended by biggest — Vegas
Leave it to Peter DeBoer to deliver the most spot-on analysis of the Sharks’ demise.
“I thought we were the hardest-working team in the league coming into the series, (but) that team works every single night for Gerard (Gallant) and his staff,” the San Jose head coach said of Vegas and its head coach.
Monday, a day after the Sharks exited the Stanley Cup playoffs and a day before they were scheduled to clean out lockers, all that’s left is to dissect what went wrong against a first-year team of improbable destiny.
“Vegas deserves to be moving on. They played great,” DeBoer said. “They finished their chances and got the saves when they needed to. I wish them the best of luck. They’ve done a fantastic job with that team.”
It will take time for San Jose to discard disappointment and accept its accomplishments. The Sharks were one of the last eight teams playing after absorbing an offseason departure of franchise pillar Patrick Marleau and the loss of another cornerstone — Joe Thornton — who went down with a season-ending injury in January.
Newcomers including Timo Meier, Kevin Labanc, Marcus Sorensen, Joakim Ryan and Tim Heed were folded into the lineup and younger players Tomas Hertl, Joonas Donskoi, Chris Tierney, Melker Karlsson, Barclay Goodrow and Dylan DeMelo were challenged in training camp to take their games to another level.
Expectations were not lowered and the team went 12-6-1 after acquiring top-line forward Evander Kane from Buffalo at the trade deadline. San Jose finished third (with 100 points) in the Pacific Division and reached the postseason for the 13th time in 14 springs.
“Despite the adversity, the injuries and Jumbo (Thornton) being out, this group really felt we could keep winning and moving on,” said DeBoer, whose team swept Anaheim in the first round. “There was a confidence about them.”
But the Sharks could not handle the Golden Knights, who led or were tied for 82 percent of the series. San Jose led for only 70:24 of the 393:30.
“Throughout the series, we didn’t get enough from all 20 who dressed, and that was the issue,” Sharks center Logan Couture said. “To go far in the playoffs you need everyone, every night, and I don’t think we had it this series. … It’s extra disappointing when you don’t play the way you’re capable of, so as a team, individually, that’s something that’s very difficult to take.”
San Jose also ran smack into a hot goalie. Vegas’ Marc-Andre Fleury allowed only three goals in a four-game sweep of Los Angeles, and he was up to the task in Round 2. He stopped 200 of San Jose’s 214 shots (.935 save percentage) and pitched shutouts in the series opener and closer.
“Sometimes you’ve got to give credit to the other guy,” Sharks defenseman Brent Burns said. “The enemy’s got a vote, and the enemy this series was Fleury. He played unbelievable.”
Conversely, San Jose goalie Martin Jones wasn’t able to duplicate his 1.00 goals-against average and .970 save percentage in the opening round. He slipped to a 3.13 GAA and .895 save percentage and twice was replaced in goal.
“Part of it was that first game,” Sharks forward Joe Pavelski said of the 7-0 loss in Game 1. “He had a couple of great games for us. I wouldn’t look at those numbers and put anything on him.”
The Sharks didn’t get enough production, and they sure couldn’t stop Vegas’ top line, centered by William Karlsson and joined by wingers Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith. The three combined for eight goals, 25 points and 61 of Vegas’ 202 shots in the series. Fittingly, Marchessault scored the series clincher Sunday with assists from Karlsson and Smith.
“They make a lot of plays,” Tierney said. “They’re opportunistic when they get chances, and they can score. They scored a lot, and their depth guys scored, too.”
Pavelski’s line managed three goals and five points. Tierney’s group accounted for two goals and six points. The fourth line had a goal and two points. And Couture’s line led the way with six goals and 16 points, but it had its hands full assisting San Jose defensemen Marc-Edouard Vlasic (minus-3) and Justin Braun (minus-2) trying to contain the Golden Knights’ top group.
“No handshake is easy when you’re on the losing side,” Pavelski said. “A lot of guys stepped up and played some hard, productive minutes, and it was encouraging to see. We always felt like we had a chance to move on to another round. We just came up a little short.”