The San Jose Sharks have been one of the NHL’s worst teams this season. The losses in their last two games encapsulate how bad things have been.
San Jose hosted the St. Louis Blues on Thursday. The Sharks led 2-0 after the first period but things quickly crumbled. The Blues dominated the second period 4-0 and went on to a 6-3 win. Saturday’s game was déjà vu. San Jose led the Washington Capitals 2-0 after one period but Washington owned the second period, outscoring the Sharks 4-0 en route to an 8-3 win.
Dan Rusanowsky, San Jose’s play-by-play man on Twitter, noted that a team leading 2-0 after one period, then allowing four straight goals in the second in consecutive games has only happened one other time in NHL history. The only other time it happened came in the final days of Bill Clinton’s presidency.
STAT NOTE: #SJSharks have had a 2-0 lead at the end of the 1st and allowed 4 straight GA in the 2nd period in consecutive games. It's only the 2nd time in @NHL history that's happened (also @Senators vs. @LAKings on 1/16/2001 and vs. @Capitals on 1/18/2001.
— Dan Rusanowsky (@DanRusanowsky) March 5, 2023
Hockey fans reacted to the Sharks historic struggles.
— Chelena Goldman (@ChelenaGoldman) March 5, 2023
The Sharks 2022-23 season in a nutshell… https://t.co/uQKEgVbkw6
— Bleeding Teal (@BleedingTeal) March 5, 2023
Not just bad … historical! Sorry guys.
— Eric Hornick (@ehornick) March 5, 2023
From 1998-2019, few NHL teams were as strong as San Jose. While the Sharks often disappointed in the postseason, they made the playoffs in all but two of those seasons and were often among the best teams in the league. The last four seasons, though, have been a much different story. Clearly there’s a lot of work to be done for the Sharks to return to their previous glory.
