Sharks’ depth scoring woes have never been more glaring than right now

Tomas Hertl scored 38 seconds into the first period against the Seattle Kraken and set a new Sharks record in the process, becoming the first player in team history to score five consecutive goals on the road.

It was at once an indication of Hertl’s impressive play away from home this season and an indictment of the Sharks’ second, third and fourth lines — not to mention the defensemen — and their inability to score right now.

That lack of scoring depth has been an issue throughout the season, but it was never more glaring than Thursday night at Climate Pledge Arena, as Hertl and Timo Meier accounted for both of the team’s goals in a 3-2 loss to the expansion Kraken.

The Sharks’ second line of Logan Couture, Noah Gregor and Jonathan Dahlen, and the third line of Nick Bonino, Andrew Cogliano and Matt Nieto, per Natural Stat Trick, combined for four total scoring chances during 5-on-5 play against the last-place Kraken.

The top line of Hertl, Meier and Barabanov, meanwhile, created 14.

Not great balance for a team about to take on some of the toughest clubs in the NHL.

“I thought the only line we had going early on was (Hertl’s line),” Sharks coach Bob Boughner said. “There were some flashes on some other lines here and there, but it’s not enough for 60 minutes. We can’t depend on one line.”

It’s been like this for a while.

Going back to Jan. 4, when Couture entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol and missed the next three games, to the end of business Thursday, Sharks forwards Meier, Hertl, Barabanov and Rudolfs Balcers have combined for 16 goals in all situations. The other forwards in the lineup during that time accounted for four, and no goals have come from the defensemen.

Hertl scored the Sharks’ final goal in their 3-2 win over Buffalo on Jan. 6 and had a hat trick in a 3-2 overtime win over Philadelphia two days later. His first-period goal Thursday made it five straight goals on the road for him and gave him 21 for the season.

On the other end of the spectrum, Couture’s wingers, Dahlen and Gregor, are both going through epic scoring slumps right now and are probably punching above their weight class being in the top-six forward group. Dahlen is still a rookie and Gregor has played less than 100 NHL games.

But, realistically, the Sharks don’t have another winger at the moment to take either player’s spot, as those players either don’t have the experience or the needed scoring touch to be on the second line.

Perhaps when Balcers comes out of COVID protocol next week, as is hoped, and rejoins the top six, that could slot players into more proper positions.

Still, the Sharks in all likelihood are going to need to rely on their scoring leaders, not to mention their goalies, if they want to come out of a harrowing stretch of games over the next 11 days with their playoff hopes still intact.

The Sharks play two games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, starting with one at SAP Center on Saturday and the other on Feb. 1 in Florida. In between, the Sharks have single games against Washington, Florida, and Carolina. All four of those teams are in the top seven in the NHL’s overall standings, and Florida and Tampa Bay are tied for first place with 59 points each.

The Sharks (21-18-2) enter Friday tenuously in fourth place in the Pacific Division and in second in the Western Conference’s Wild Card standings.

“We have to just fight,” Hertl said. “Our next five games will be really hard, but we need the points.”

Should the Sharks go out and seek offensive help via trade or hope for some of these scoring slumps to end? It seems unlikely that the Sharks would be buyers before the March 21 trade deadline, but perhaps there’s a small move to be made without selling off future early-round draft picks.

Certainly, the Sharks have some cap space – close to $10 million – to add a winger if they feel that one is out there that fits into their style of play.

For now, it appears the solution will have to come from within.

“It’d be nice to get some offense going on some other lines, take a little pressure off (the top line),” Boughner said.

“We’ve been talking about this for a long time. The one-goal game and the margin for error. We generated enough chances tonight, we need to capitalize.”