The message from San Jose Sharks coach Peter DeBoer has remained consistent all season.
Stick with it. The goals will come eventually.
Heading into Saturday night’s home game against Winnipeg, the Sharks were 28th in the NHL in scoring (2.52 goals per game) and trying to stay afloat in the Pacific Division.
A combination of age, lack of depth in the organization and a struggling power play have conspired to turn San Jose from a Stanley Cup finalist in 2016 to a team fighting to make the playoffs this season.
“I think we knew when Patty Marleau left that we were going to have to replace some goals by committee,” DeBoer said before Friday’s 5-4 loss to the Golden Knights.