The San Jose Sharks, for the most part, played the way that head coach Ryan Warsofsky wanted them to play. They still lost 2-1 to the Calgary Flames.<\/p>\n
The Sharks have lost four of their last five.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can feel it on the bench and in the dressing room, I think our game\u2019s coming,\u201d Warsofsky said.<\/p>\n
Sharks tools<\/p>\n
Believe that or not, the wins must start coming soon for San Jose.<\/p>\n
So how did the San Jose Sharks adhere to their coaching staff\u2019s direction on Monday night?<\/p>\n
In morning skate, the Sharks emphasized strong-side breakouts, basically coming up the ice together where the puck is.<\/p>\n
This type of breakout, in theory, simplifies zone exits, shortens passes, is a faster way out, and reduces defensive risk. It\u2019s a safer way to play.<\/p>\n
Here are a few examples of it, successful and failed, from last night.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Per Stathletes, the San Jose Sharks tried 25 5-on-5 Stretch Passes against the Flames \u2014 a number of them when they opened up the game after falling behind 2-0 \u2014 their second-lowest total of the season, just ahead of 24 on Oct. 13 versus the Boston Bruins.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s atypical: Through Nov. 1, the Sharks averaged 40.93 5-on-5 Stretch Passes a Game, the most in the NHL. For context, the Florida Panthers averaged a league-least 29.08, which might suggest where Warsofsky wants to take San Jose.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were supporting each other better on our breakouts, playing a little bit more connected, and we were able to get the puck out of the zone a bit easier,\u201d Nolan Allan<\/a> said.<\/p>\n This support also led to 37 5-on-5 Successful Controlled Entries, which was a team-high this season. San Jose was about average in this category, going into this game.<\/p>\n But the fact of the matter is, the Sharks still couldn\u2019t score, until they opened the game up.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Down 2-0, Michael Misa<\/a> (77) stretches the zone, Jacob Trouba<\/a> (65) finds him, and a beautiful Misa pass to Mason Marchment<\/a> (27) kicks off the chaos that leads to a Sam Dickinson<\/a> (6) goal.<\/p>\n There\u2019s obvious defensive risk in a stretch-heavy game, as we\u2019ve seen by the Sharks\u2019 reliance on it this season, and the results that it\u2019s brought.<\/p>\n The San Jose Sharks simply haven\u2019t found that balance of good defense leading to good offense yet.<\/p>\n Dickinson spoke to these two faces of the Sharks.<\/p>\n Defensively?<\/p>\n \u201cWe were playing pretty well into our structure. I don\u2019t think there was too much chasing around or anything like that,\u201d he said. \u201cThings go wrong in the D-zone when you start just scrambling and trying to do too much or whatever.\u201d<\/p>\n Offensively?<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s obviously some frustration and some tension in the room. I think, at times, you just got to relax and go out there and play hockey,\u201d Dickinson said. \u201cYou see that when we started to play our best, especially in the third period today when we needed that offense, you saw a lot of our skill come out. When we have the puck, we\u2019re a pretty dangerous team.\u201d<\/p>\n Dickinson isn\u2019t contradicting his coach. There\u2019s just an offense-defense balance that hasn\u2019t been struck for San Jose yet.<\/p>\n Dickinson added that the Sharks also have to be \u201csmart with the puck. Not trying to do too much and just trust our instincts.\u201d<\/p>\n