October 25th 2024.
The San Jose Sharks had a tough start to their game on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. In the first 12 minutes of the first period, they were completely dominated and could not recover, ultimately losing 3-2. This marked their eighth consecutive defeat to kick off the regular season.
Unfortunately, this has been a recurring issue for the Sharks this season. They have struggled early in games and it proved to be their downfall once again. The Kings scored three even-strength goals in just over 11 minutes, with Jordan Spence and Warren Foegele each finding the back of the net.
The Sharks did show some resilience, scoring two power-play goals in the second period courtesy of Mikael Granlund. He received passes from Jack Thompson and Alexander Wennberg, who recorded his first point with the Sharks after signing with them as a free agent in July. However, despite their efforts, the Sharks were unable to find an even-strength goal for the third consecutive game.
This loss extends the Sharks' winless streak to start the season, making them the only team in the NHL without a win. In fact, their October losing streak now stands at 18 games dating back to 2022. This puts them in the company of only one other team in NHL history, the 1960-61 and 1961-62 Bruins, to go winless through eight games in back-to-back seasons.
Granlund's two goals were a bright spot for the Sharks, but they were not enough to overcome their slow start in Los Angeles. The team was eager for a win after their previous seven losses, including four in regulation time. However, the Kings proved to be a formidable opponent, especially in their first home game and coming off a 6-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Sharks were caught off guard in the first period as the Kings came out strong and scored three goals in quick succession. Spence's goal came off a turnover by Tyler Toffoli, while Foegele's first goal was the result of a battle for the puck behind the Sharks' net. This early deficit proved to be too much for the Sharks to overcome.
In total, the Sharks allowed three goals on just 17 shots, with goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood facing a constant barrage from the Kings' aggressive offense. This game serves as a reminder that the Sharks need to address their slow starts and find a way to stop their opponents from taking control of the game early on.
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