Maybe last year, and certainly the season before, a 3-2 comeback shootout loss, complete with a first NHL goal from a top prospect, would be okay for the San Jose Sharks.<\/p>\n
But head coach Ryan Warsofsky is trying to set a higher standard, and just maybe, the Sharks are getting there soon.<\/p>\n
San Jose is 4-4-1 in their last nine and has been competitive in every single game in this stretch.<\/p>\n
Sam Dickinson scored his first NHL goal off a brilliant Will Smith pass, and the Sharks tied it late, before falling in the shootout to the Detroit Red Wings.<\/p>\n
But post-game, the discussion with Warsofsky wasn\u2019t about a moral victory, it was about real wins.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to keep this thing going,\u201d Warsofsky said of the Sharks\u2019 almost three-game winning streak against all playoff teams. \u201cThat\u2019s the name of the game. Our guys are a little bit crushed in there, because we wanted win.\u201d<\/p>\n
Warsofsky, however, put a finger on a glaring problem that will prevent San Jose from consistent winning hockey, an issue that has plagued the young Sharks even in this recent three-game points run.<\/p>\n
\u201cPuck management has got to be cleaned up,\u201d he said tersely, \u201cor we\u2019re going to be shooting ourselves in the foot very soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a message to the veterans, like John Klingberg, and to the youngsters, like Macklin Celebrini, to cut it out with the turnovers.<\/p>\n
San Jose isn\u2019t going to be a Stanley Cup contender overnight, but can they improve throughout this season in this essential to winning hockey?<\/p>\n
Warsofsky believes so: \u201cThe confidence is coming, the belief is coming. We can get better. We can get a lot better. I know we got some results, but I think there\u2019s a team in there that can really be consistently very good, night in and night out, and we\u2019re going to keep pushing and challenging to get to that standard.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s better hockey in us coming.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the first time in a long time, it feels like this just might be happening sooner for the Sharks than later.<\/p>\n
Ryan Warsofsky<\/p>\n
Warsofsky, on San Jose Sharks trying to establish a higher standard:<\/p>\n
We want to win. That\u2019s the name of the game. Our guys are a little bit crushed in there, because we wanted win. We wanted to keep this thing going.<\/p>\n
The confidence is coming, the belief is coming. We can get better. We can get a lot better. I know we got some results, but I think there\u2019s a team in there that can really be consistently very good, night in and night out, and we\u2019re going to keep pushing and challenging to get to that standard.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s better hockey in us coming.<\/p>\n
Warsofsky, on the key to a higher standard:<\/p>\n
Puck management has got to be cleaned up, or we\u2019re going to be shooting ourselves in the foot very soon.<\/p>\n
Warsofsky, on Ethan Cardwell\u2019s game:<\/p>\n
Cards was good, was skating. I thought he was trying to add some purpose to his game, some conviction was some something we talked about with him.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Sam Dickinson<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a hell of a pass, right before it we made eye contact, and at that point, I think I knew it was coming.”<\/p>\n
Sam Dickinson on his 1st NHL goal, talks Will Smith\u2019s assist & Ryan Warsofsky chirping him: https:\/\/t.co\/Z3fPmQX0tk<\/a><\/p>\n