The All-Star break couldn't have come at a worse time for the San Jose Sharks. Riding a 5-game point streak and playing some of their best hockey all season, the Sharks hope to continue their good play Tuesday against the Coyotes.
We will find out very early, and I mean Wednesday, if the Sharks "were who we thought they were," as they embark on a 7-game roadtrip spanning 2 weeks where they will see the likes of Tim Thomas and the Bruins and Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals.
Although they will not be playing very tough cometition on this roadtrip, it will be nice to how they react to not only the adversity of the 8th spot in the Western Conference, but also if they will continue their good play after the All-Star break.
With just around 30 games to play in the season, the Sharks must turn their season around after having a dismal first-half, by Sharks' standards. That starts tomorrow.
Players that should have performed in the first half must perform in the second half, such as Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Dany Heatley. Ya know, the former "best top-line in hockey."
This team shouldn't be led by in mostly every offensive category by rookie Logan Couture. Although it's great and the future is bright, where are the team's leaders? Why is Couture leading with 22 goals on a team with names like Heatley and Marleau?! We're just not used to it.
It all needs to change in the second half.
Looking forward, hopefully the All-Star break didn't slow their roll because the Sharks were playing outstanding. The offense was meshing, the defense was shut down, and goalie Antti Niemi was solid in net.
It will be a long 32 games left in the season. 8 points separates 6th place from second-to-last place in the West so a lot can change very quickly.
Accept the high's and low's from the Sharks the rest of the way, but hopefully more high's than low's for a team not accustomed to struggling to make the playoffs.
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