Sharks Struggle to Stay Grounded on Road Trip, Drop Third Straight Game
CHICAGO - Before the Sharks hit the road for this five-game trip, the message from both head coach Ryan Warsofsky and rookie standout Macklin Celebrini was clear: *“Let’s just be where our feet are.” * In other words, stay present.
Stay focused. One shift, one game at a time.
But so far, that mindset hasn’t translated to results.
San Jose dropped its third straight game Monday night, falling 6-3 to the Chicago Blackhawks - a team sitting behind them in the standings. That followed Saturday’s 3-2 loss in Calgary, and the trip’s rough start in Edmonton last Thursday, when the Sharks let a 3-0 lead slip away in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Oilers.
That collapse in Edmonton? It’s still lingering.
“Probably has, to be honest with you, which is unfortunate,” Warsofsky admitted postgame in Chicago. And it shows.
This is a young Sharks team, still learning how to manage momentum - both good and bad - over the course of a long season. The loss to Edmonton wasn’t just a missed opportunity for two points.
It was a gut punch. And right now, it looks like they haven’t shaken it off.
Against the Flames, they couldn’t generate enough sustained offense. Against the Blackhawks, defensive breakdowns and inconsistent goaltending proved costly. These aren’t just isolated issues - they’re signs of a team still trying to find its identity amid growing pains.
The Sharks came into this road trip hoping to build some momentum, maybe even string together a few wins and climb out of the basement. Instead, they’ve dropped three straight - two of them to teams they had a real shot at beating.
There’s still time to salvage something from this trip, but the clock is ticking. If San Jose wants to start turning the corner, they’ll need to rediscover that focus they talked about before the trip began. Because right now, their feet may be on the ice - but their heads look like they’re still stuck in Edmonton.