For the last several weeks, the San Jose Sharks had been right on Anaheim and Los Angeles’ heels in the Pacific Division, hoping to garner the coveted top spot or at least finish second and get home-ice advantage in round one of the playoffs.
That seems like a huge reach now that the Sharks trail the Kings by seven points and the Ducks by four with Anaheim also having a game in hand. But maybe that’s not such a bad thing.
Maybe the fact that the Sharks are now basically a lock for third place in the division will help them play a little more relaxed and snap their three-game losing skid.