Sharks Bolster Playoff Hopes with Timely Good News
The San Jose Sharks head out on a three-city road trip with their season on the line. They open against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena.
Playoff picture and schedule
The Sharks have lost four straight games and sit at 70 points. Their record is 32-30-6 with 14 games remaining.
San Jose enters Tuesday five points behind Nashville for the second Western Conference wild-card spot. The Sharks hold two games in hand on the Predators. They also trail the Edmonton Oilers by seven points in the Pacific Division, with three games in hand.
The trip continues in St. Louis on Thursday and in Columbus on Saturday. A regulation loss could make a wild-card berth much harder to reach. As of Monday, Moneypuck.com gave the Sharks a 15.8% chance of making the playoffs.
Injury returns offer timely good news
Monday’s practice brought encouraging signs. Tyler Toffoli, Ty Dellandrea, Igor Chernyshov, Vincent Desharnais, and goalie Yaroslav Askarov took part.
The availability of those players could bolster the Sharks’ playoff hopes. Toffoli, the club’s third-leading scorer with 44 points, did not board the flight to Tennessee. He is expected to join the team later on the trip when cleared.
Player status details
- Toffoli missed Saturday’s game after suffering a lower-body injury in the first period of a 5-0 loss to Buffalo.
- Chernyshov took line rushes with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. He missed four games after a head injury on March 14.
- Desharnais skated paired with Nick Leddy after missing the prior game with an upper-body issue.
- Dellandrea, out since Jan. 6 with a lower-body problem, skated without restrictions and traveled with the club.
- Askarov has not appeared since March 10, when he allowed five goals on 25 shots in a 6-3 loss to Buffalo. He could serve as Alex Nedeljkovic’s backup.
- Veteran Ryan Reaves is listed week-to-week with a hand injury and may not return unless the Sharks extend their season.
Performance issues during the skid
The Sharks have been outscored 18-8 across their four-game losing streak. Problems have shown up at both ends of the ice.
Natural Stat Trick counts 45 high-danger chances allowed in that span. That number ranks fourth-highest in the NHL over the same period.
San Jose has scored seven even-strength goals during the skid. No goals came from Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Alex Wennberg, or William Eklund. Those players rank among the team’s top scorers this season.
Coaching message and locker-room tone
Coach Ryan Warsofsky urged players to relax and play their game. He emphasized competing, enjoying the sport, and avoiding forced plays.
Tyler Toffoli pointed to small mistakes as a recurring issue. He said a few bounces could quickly change results.
Staff moves
With Askarov available, the Sharks reassigned Laurent Brossoit to the San Jose Barracuda. The roster shift adjusts goaltending depth for the road swing.
Off-ice moment
Warsofsky offered condolences Monday for Jessi Pierce. The 37-year-old NHL reporter and her three young children died in a Minnesota house fire on Saturday.
Pierce covered the Minnesota Wild as an NHL.com correspondent for about a decade. Warsofsky called her a warm presence who loved the game.
Filmogaz.com will monitor lineup updates and injury news as the Sharks begin this critical road trip.
