“I think the belief system is not as high as it needs to be. So, if you want to call that fragile, I guess it possibly is.”
That was Sharks coach Todd McLellan after last night’s 3-2 loss to Detroit at SAP Center.
San Jose is now winless in its last seven home games. To avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 2003, it’s estimated McLellan’s group will need to go around 12-5-3 in their final 20 games. The way the team has been playing, that seems unlikely.
The Sharks actually got off to a good start against the Red Wings, outshooting the visitors 14-4 in the first period while taking a 1-0 lead.
And then, for whatever reason -- no belief in themselves, according to McLellan -- the game turned. Detroit put up 31 shots in the final two periods, against just eight for the Sharks.
“You could see that once we got the lead we were more prepared to – rather than to assert ourselves and push Detroit back – we were prepared just to defend,” said McLellan, per CSN Bay Area.
“That’s not the way we’re going to win.”
In Corsi chart form, the game looked like this:
The Sharks host the suddenly streaking Senators on Saturday. Ottawa’s won four straight, including back-to-back shutout victories in Anaheim and Los Angeles.