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Sharks are trying to take four-game losing streak in stride

San Jose Sharks v Arizona Coyotes

GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 01: Head coach Peter DeBoer of the San Jose Sharks watches from the bench during the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on November 1, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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The San Jose Sharks’ Pacific Division lead is in some peril. They’ve now lost four straight games after Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Flyers in Philly. Is it time to panic?

Not quite.

Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer isn’t too flustered by this tough span - something Joe Pavelski deems a “funk” - especially since some of these defeats feel a little random, as he told CSN Bay Area.

“We’ve lost three games in overtime or shootouts. Those are coin flips,” DeBoer said. “I don’t feel we’re in a rut, no. No.”

(Aside: it is a little amusing that this isn’t a rut [according to DeBoer] but it might be a funk [by Pavelski’s estimation]. So a funk is better than a rut? Cool.)

The Sharks get a chance to grab one win on this current four-game road swing if they can beat the Devils in New Jersey on Sunday. There is some logic to finding a silver lining in at least grinding out “charity points” during a stretch of road games, even if some fans will be left grumbling.

The rest of February isn’t too rough on the Sharks, trading off home and road games here and there. March is where the meat of their opportunities and challenges reside.

From March 9-18, the Sharks enjoy a six-game homestand that concludes with a March 18 meeting versus the Anaheim Ducks, their hated rival who’s currently ranked second in the Pacific.

After that, they play four in a row and seven of eight on the road from March 20 - April 2, then their season concludes with three home games.

With those stretches in mind, it’s understandable that DeBoer is trying to keep the highs and lows limited right now. There are bigger obstacles ahead.