Despite solid start, San Jose can’t shake out of doldrums
This is not the way the Sharks envisioned coming out of the holiday break.
Jeff Carter scored 1:31 into sudden death after the Kings rallied from a 20 thirdperiod deficit and rival Los Angeles beat San Jose 32 at SAP Center on Friday.
“We have a good group of guys in here,” Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson said. “We have a good hockey team. We should be a good hockey team. We’re not a good hockey team right now.”
Carter scored on a scramble in front after Sharks goalie Aaron Dell got a piece of Alex Iafallo’s inclose shot.
“We’re still searching for that bounce,” Sharks interim coach Bob Boughner said. Brent Burns “hits the crossbar there, we had a chance to win the game. It’s that fine line. They come down and bury their chance.”
Martin Frk was recalled from the minors in time to score his first two goals of the season in his first game for Los Angeles. His second at 18:36 of the third period tied it 22 after his first at 1:30 ended goalie Aaron Dell’s shutout bid.
“Both goals were off breakouts, and both goals were off bangbang plays to the slot,” Boughner said. “Those have to be covered off.”
San Jose is 031 in its past four games and wraps up a sevengame homestand Saturday night against the Flyers.
Boughner hinted the lineup could look different.
“Some guys have got to look in the mirror and put it on themselves,” he said. “You can’t dress 12 forwards then have eight or nine show up. That was the problem tonight.”
Timo Meier was limited to three shifts in the third and Kevin Labanc skated just four.
“We had to shorten our bench,” Boughner said. “We had a couple guys not sticking with the structure, not playing within the team system. They know who they are. It’s a wakeup call for a couple of guys in that room right now.”
The Sharks and Kings needed more than a period to knock off the rust from three idle days before the Sharks broke through.
Karlsson scored his fourth goal of the season with a wrist shot from the right point at 6:16 of the second period through a screen. Joe Thornton won an offensivezone draw that struck teammate Patrick Marleau on its way to Karlsson.
Thornton took center stage at the 11:39 mark when he found the back for the first time in 39 games this season.
He filled an empty net at the far post after Radim Simek made a perfect backhand pass to complete a tictactoe passing play times two. It marked Thornton’s 414th career goal in 1,605 games.
Two regulars rejoined the Sharks blue line following the Christmas break. Simek was activated off the injured list after missing eight games and rookie Mario Ferraro returned following three off for injury.
“Our two oldest players were our best players on the ice tonight,” Boughner said, in reference to Thornton and Marleau. “That’s nice to see for those guys, but that shouldn’t happen. Other guys should be looking to those guys and doing what they’re supposed to do. From that point it’s disappointing.”