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Sharks’ coach McLellan: Slumping Marleau ‘a streaky player’

San Jose Sharks v Phoenix Coyotes

during the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena on December 27, 2013 in Glendale, Arizona.

Christian Petersen

Goals have been hard to come by of late for the San Jose Sharks, and that includes forward Patrick Marleau.

His recent struggles to score are perhaps magnified because they coincide with his signing of a three-year contract extension worth $20 million with the Sharks on Jan. 24. Since then, he’s scored only twice, with another assist added in there as well.

Marleau did score Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. And he’ll now head to Sochi as a member of Team Canada, which also may have been an outside distraction in recent games.

“There’s more to Patty than we’ve seen over the last little bit,” Sharks head coach Todd McLellan told CSN Bay Area. “He’s had some things, the Olympics, the contract, a number of things that have occurred over the last couple weeks.

“Again, he is a streaky player, as well. We’ve talked about him and Brent Burns (no goals in 15 games). I think [Marleau] is skating well, it’s using his body and his size and his strength, and I think he can get better in that area.”

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