Hertl struggling to find scoring touch.
SAN JOSE >> Sharks center Tomas Hertl enjoyed a playful moment at the end of a recent practice when after a failed shootout attempt on Martin Jones, he threw his stick in the air only to see it get caught in the netting behind the goal.
“I just for fun throw it,” Hertl said Sunday. “At least we had a good laugh from it.”
Hertl has had a tough time finding the back of the net in games, too. Through the first five games of the regular season, Hertl — mirroring the struggles the Sharks have had overall at both ends of the ice — had zero goals, zero assists and had a minus-6 rating.
For a player who is the Sharks’ top returning goal scorer from last season, that may be an early cause for concern. But neither Hertl or coach Pete DeBoer are overreacting right now.
Hertl had 20 minutes and 45 seconds of ice time in the Sharks’ 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, which snapped a fourgame losing streak.
“On the ice, I’m still playing my game. The chances were right there, on the (scoresheet) it looks pretty bad. A few zeroes for a top guy,” Hertl said. “I just keep working, I’m just happy we (won), and I would do anything for the win. For sure we need some of my goals to help win, but the chances are right there.”
With 13 shots on goal through five games, Hertl feels he can stand to put the puck on net a bit more than he has so far. Still, there have been opportunities that Hertl just hasn’t buried.
Early in the second period of the Sharks’ Oct. 5 game against Anaheim, Hertl picked up a rebound in front of the Ducks net after a Kevin Labanc shot on goal. But his backhand shot from just outside the crease was stopped by a toe save from goalie John Gibson. The Sharks’ power play also went 0 for 14 through three games.
“Tommy always gives you everything he’s got,” DeBoer said. “He’s
been a little bit snake bit. I can count at least three, at the top of my head, unbelievable saves.
“Those are slam dunk goals, and he gets robbed. He’s just got to stick with it.”
Having Evander Kane back on Hertl’s left wing should continue to be of benefit, DeBoer said. Kane was suspended for the first three games of the season.
“I think he’s been a little bit of a product of our lineup,” DeBoer said. “We’ve had him surrounded with a lot of young guys, with Kane out the first three games. Kane’s back and I expect Tommy will be fine. I have no issues with him.” GAMBRELL’S ‘DESPERATION’ >> DeBoer said he’s liked what he’s seen the last two games before Sunday from center Dylan Gambrell, who had one assist against Nashville and two more against Chicago.
Gambrell also won 13 of 18 faceoffs in those games, as he begins to get a bit more comfortable in a fourth line center role.
“Just a desperation level in his game,” DeBoer said. “I know sometimes you have to see where things are going, and through camp and the exhibition series, I thought he was just OK. I think he saw he was coming to a crossroads about whether he was going to be in the NHL or have to step back again.
“There’s been a renewed desperation level to his game that’s changed everything.”
MARTIN JONES STARTS >> Jones entered Sunday with a 10-3-0 record, a 2.48 goals against average and a .923 save percentage in 13 career games against the Flames. He has struggled at times this season with an 0-3-0 record, an 854 save percentage and a 4.56 goals against average.
The Sharks’ only win so far this season came Thursday when Aaron Dell made 26 saves in the 5-4 victory at Chicago, leading to questions as to who would start against Calgary. But from DeBoer’s perspective, it wasn’t a difficult decision.
”It wasn’t complicated,” DeBoer said Saturday about starting Jones over Dell. “The first game of the season was a disaster. Slowly we’ve gotten a little bit better every game at helping our goaltenders. But our game in front of those guys isn’t where it needs to be yet, either.”
LINEUP CHANGES >> Tim Heed, who had been out the previous four games with an upper body injury, returned to the lineup Sunday night, replacing Trevor Carrick. Forward Lukas Radil, who was scratched Thursday, also returned, taking the spot of Danil Yurtaykin. INJURY UPDATES >> Forward Marcus Sorensen remains day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, as he missed his third straight game Sunday. DeBoer said defenseman Jake Middleton, who was hurt Oct. 4 in the Sharks’ 5-1 loss to Vegas from a heavy hit from Ryan Reaves, will be out another four-to-six weeks. Fellow defenseman Dalton Prout skated Saturday and is closer to being able to return.