San Jose Sharks road trip recap: Five takeaways before Ovechkin & Co. roll into town

The San Jose Sharks can be a tough team to figure out sometimes.

They can look buttoned up on defense and dangerous on the forecheck as they were Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild, or, in a span of 48 hours, they can look disconnected and out of sorts like they were Thursday against the St. Louis Blues.

So what Sharks team is going to show up Saturday when they face Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals at SAP Center, or on Monday when Andrei Svechnikov and the Carolina Hurricanes also visit the South Bay?

If the Sharks (8-7-1) can’t play with a little more structure, then they’re going to have a hard time pulling themselves out of a funk that has seen them lose three of their last four games and sink to sixth in the Pacific Division.

The Hurricanes and Capitals are the top two teams in the Metropolitan Division. Carolina has the best goaltending in the NHL and Washington, led by Ovechkin, has one of the league’s top offenses.

“Who knows what the start is going to be like against Washington, but we’ve got to try and stick to our identity for 60 minutes,” Sharks coach Bob Boughner said after Thursday’s 4-1 loss to St. Louis. “There’s going to be peaks and valleys of the game. It’s just a matter of getting back to your foundation, and I think tonight we got away from it, and that’s what happens.”

Here are five observations from the five-game road trip.

TIMO TIME: Timo Meier looked like a bonafide all-star winger before he landed in the NHL’s COVID Protocol with five goals and six assists in his first eight games. He kept up that torrid pace in his three games since his return. Back with linemates Logan Couture and Jonathan Dahlen, Meier notched one goal and three assists to continue what has been the fastest start to a season in his NHL career.

Boughner has explained how Meier’s improved play away from the puck has led to an increase in scoring chances. But he also noted Meier’s willingness to be coached and accept constructive criticism this season – signs that he is maturing as a player and a person.

“I think Timo’s come back and has tried to take on more of a leadership role in the dressing room. He’s a lot more vocal, he’s taken young guys under his wing, and he looks like he’s having a lot more fun,” Boughner said of the 25-year-old forward.

“I thought he put a lot of pressure on himself last year and sometimes when we talked, it was more confrontational. I think this year he’s more accepting of the teaching and the help. He’s enjoying it, and he should. He’s playing his game and he’s having fun.”

MIDDLE SIX CONCERNS: While the Sharks’ top line has largely fueled the Sharks’ offense this season, there remain valid concerns about the scoring prowess of the second and third lines.

Tomas Hertl and Alexander Barabanov both had three points on the road trip while Rudolfs Balcers was held off the scoresheet in four of five games.

That wouldn’t be such a concern if Nick Bonino, Andrew Cogliano. Kevin Labanc and Matt Nieto had been able to chip in a little more offense at even strength. But Bonino is in a hideous offensive slump with zero points in 16 games, Nieto has one assist in nine games, Cogliano has four points in 15 games, and Kevin Labanc was recently demoted to the fourth line.

Consistency from the second line and offensive production from the third line could be season-long issues for the Sharks.

BRENT BURNS, FIRE AND ICE: Few players were more impactful for the Sharks from Oct. 30 to Nov. 11 than Burns, who had one goal and eight assists in the six games in that time.

But in three games since the Sharks got four defensemen back from COVID protocol, Burns has zero points, and Thursday marked the second straight game that he was held without a shot. The Sharks didn’t have a single power play Thursday, which played a role in that.

Of course, Burns has been asked to play more of a shutdown role the last two seasons, which is going to have an adverse effect on his production. But Boughner and his staff need to find a way to get him more offensive opportunities. He’s too important and too big a weapon. Having a stable third-defense pair that could be on the ice for more defensive zone draws would help.

GOALTENDING: James Reimer went 1-2-0 with a .926 save percentage in the five-game road trip. Adin Hill went 1-1-0 with a respectable .912 save percentage. Aside from the 6-2 loss to Colorado on Nov. 13, Reimer and Hill gave the Sharks chances to win or steal points in every game.

TOUGH PACIFIC: The Pacific Division is tougher than people expected. Yes, Vegas and Edmonton are as good as advertised, but Anaheim and Los Angeles have to be considered surprises so far with a combined record of 18-11-5.

The Sharks began the road trip on Nov. 9 in a tie for fourth place with a 6-4-1 record, five points back of the Oilers. They’re now in sixth, seven points back of Edmonton.

The Sharks have played 10 of their 16 games away from home but now start a four-game homestand. After the game with Carolina, the Sharks play Ottawa on Wednesday and Toronto on Friday.

“So it’s been a grind, our schedule. We’ve played some tough teams,” Boughner said. “But I do believe our whole division has improved.”