What has Doug Wilson done? He traded Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi over the summer and now the Sharks can’t score.
Except of course for the six goals they scored in their season-opening victory against the Coyotes. But in their last two games, both losses, they’ve scored just twice.
Thus, the hyperbole.
San Jose hosts Anaheim tonight, and with Martin Havlat still banged up, Sharks coach Todd McLellan has been forced to get creative with his top lines.
One of the players McLellan has promoted is checker Torrey Mitchell, who impressed the coach skating with Logan Couture and Ryane Clowe on the second line in Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Blues.
“I liked Mitchey up there,” said McLellan. “I thought he gave that line some speed, and I thought he was on pucks. Mitchey did what Mitchey is supposed to do. He plays a simple game and plays with some speed.”
Anyone else picturing Torrey Mitchell getting beaten with a paddle in the parking lot? Just me? Alright, we’ll move on.
It’s worth noting that McLellan wasn’t especially impressed with his team’s fancy-pants play against the Blues – “We chose to be the Globetrotters in the first seven, eight minutes of the game” – so expect a more north-south approach from the Sharks tonight.
Antti Niemi is expected to get the start in goal for San Jose.