Deadline deals add more bite to Sharks
The San Jose Sharks head back to the Midwest for their final road trip of the season looking like a far different team than the one that stumbled its way through a tour of the Central Division just last month.
They have the mid-season additions of Evander Kane and Eric Fehr to thank for that.
With Kane providing a scoring threat and physical play as a topline winger and Fehr solidifying the fourth line and penalty kill, the Sharks are playing as well as anyone in the NHL down the stretch with a seven-game winning streak that is the team’s longest in five years.
During this streak, they have managed to win wide-open games as well as tight-checking ones and negated the speed of teams such as Vegas as well as dealt with more physical play like in Saturday ’s 5-1 win over Calgary.
“I think that’s something we’re trying to pride ourselves on,” defenceman Brenden Dillon said. “Playoffs, you’re going to meet all sorts of teams; speed teams, teams that can play hard down low. I think we’ve got the personnel that we’re able to match up with those clubs. We’re doing things in practice to prepare for them.”
The Sharks are in prime position for a playoff spot. They’re playing their best hockey in March.
“We’re a desperate team,” Kane said. “We need all the points we can get. We haven’t clinched a playoff spot yet. The teams that are right behind us keep winning. We have to keep pushing forward and keep picking up points as we close out the season in order to secure a spot. It’s good to get in that playoff mindset right now.”
Kane has provided a major lift since his arrival in a Feb. 26 deadline deal with Buffalo. He has stepped onto the top line with centre Joe Pavelski and provided a scoring threat and some needed toughness to help make up for the absence of Joe Thornton, who has missed two months with a knee injury. Thornton has started skating again, but there is no timetable for his return.