San Jose Sharks entering critical stretch with playoff implications

The San Jose Sharks currently sit in a playoff position and either will remain in contention or fall behind on a vital road swing beginning this week.

Without the presence of Joe Thornton in the lineup, the San Jose Sharks refuse to give up. No matter the deficit or time remaining, resilience has become an identity of these players.

A trait that became rooted in this team back in December.

Recent evidence of the Sharks’ never quit grinding resolve came last weekend in Anaheim. San Jose was coming off a 6-4 win over Edmonton before making a flight down to Orange County.

The Ducks took an early 1-0 lead, but the Sharks began dominating play in the second period. After controlling much of the game, a defensive breakdown resulted in a 2-0 deficit. Not deterred, the Sharks broke through midway in the third, on a Logan Couture goal.

San Jose Sharks /

San Jose Sharks

Couture would come in clutch in the final minute of the game, feeding a pass to Timo Meier at the net to level the score.

Shootout goals by Couture and Joe Pavelski sealed the win, as the Sharks defeated the Ducks after trailing by a multi-goal deficit for the first time in franchise history.

Overall, the Sharks are 6-5-2 without Thornton, but sit second in the Pacific Division. Las Vegas will likely take the top spot. For now, San Jose will be jockeying with Calgary and Los Angeles for the second and third spots.

But the Sharks face competition from the Central Division as a logjam for the two wild-card spots remains undecided. Points are at a premium this time of the season, and the standings can dramatically change after each night.

The Sharks begin a four-game trip, with stops in St. Louis, Nashville, Chicago, and Minnesota. The Blackhawks are out of the postseason picture, but the Sharks should expect physical play from all four teams.

Minus the Blackhawks, the remaining six teams in the Central Division have shots to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Colorado will likely be the next to fall out of the hunt, with injuries taking a toll on the young team. The Avalanche have shown how dangerous they can be, though many expected the team to be in a rebuilding year.

For the Sharks, the upcoming games will tell how serious of a contender the team can be for the Stanley Cup. San Jose cannot afford to play from behind on a constant basis as fatigue could set in down the stretch and into the first round.

A few significant factors have helped the Sharks remain in playoff position. Martin Jones is showing his old form and keeping his team in games. He will likely get the call in the next four games as coach Peter DeBoer needs maximum effort from the undisputed starter.

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Mikkel Boedker is finally living up to the four-year deal he signed last season. Since the start of the new year, Boedker has been a different hockey player. He is using his speed and generating scoring opportunities.

Chemistry is growing with his teammate, Chris Tierney, and the third line for the Sharks is becoming dangerous.

Boedker is on a three-game goal streak. He scored two goals in a four-goal first period as the Sharks defeated the Dallas Stars, 5-2, last game. The Sharks returned the favor after an embarrassing shutout loss to Dallas in December.

Brent Burns is a defenseman – end of story. He made a return to the forward position in the game against the Coyotes, outmuscling players for a shot on goal. The Sharks ended up on the wrong end of the scoreboard in a 2-1 loss, but the debate about Burns was sparked again.

Burns may not be showing his form from last season, after winning the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman, but is filling in as a significant presence in the absence of Thornton. His style of play is high-risk, high-reward which has been notable in most recent games.

In short, Burns is best utilized as a defenseman. He currently leads the Sharks in points with 50. Joakim Ryan has been paired with Burns, and the two understand how each other play at the position. The two appear comfortable as a defensive pairing, and Ryan understands Burns will often jump into the offensive attack.

As the NHL trade deadline approaches, Doug Wilson will likely stand pat with the current roster. Wilson does not want to trade picks for rental players who will become free agents in the offseason.

San Jose will likely look to make a splash this summer with the cap space available after this season.

Next: Sharks: Thornton's Injury Could Be Make or Break

The remaining weeks of February and month of March will ultimately dictate the direction of the Sharks. For now, San Jose does not appear to be legitimate contenders and could use a little help.

If the Sharks continue to play with a sense of urgency though, especially this week, anything is possible.

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