Macklin Celebrini, Michael Misa and Yaroslav Askarov understandably were terse after a hard-fought 2-1 overtime loss to the New York Islanders.
While the Sharks got a point in a meaningful game, and against a playoff team in the Islanders, they also clearly were frustrated by the officiating.
There were questionable calls and non-calls, like Mathew Barzal running into Celebrini’s head and Kiefer Sherwood getting the only penalty for going after Barzal, for example.
But after the game, coach Ryan Warsofsky took an honestly refreshing big-picture view of the game and the rest of the Sharks’ season.
It’s not about the officials, it’s not about the Islanders, it’s about the Sharks.
San Jose, one point behind the Seattle Kraken for the last wild-card berth in the West, are playing meaningful games in March for the first time since 2019.
Youngsters like Celebrini, Misa, Askarov and company are getting their first taste of NHL playoff-like hockey.
That includes extra physicality and cheapshots.
“If we’re going to play in the playoffs, that’s what it’s going to be like. We’ve got to get comfortable. We got to get comfortable being a little uncomfortable at times,” Warsofsky said. “That’s what the game is.”