Drayage Brokersin San Jose, CA

One month into the 2023-24 National Hockey League and there are three teams that have separated themselves for two entirely different reasons.

At the top of the standings are the reigning Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights and last season’s Presidents’ Trophy winners the Boston Bruins, with neither team having lost in regulation.

The Golden Knights lead the league with 19 points, two up on the Bruins but with one game in hand. Their only loss of the season was on Oct. 27 in a 4-3 overtime defeat to the Chicago Blackhawks. The Bruins’ lone loss was 4-3 in overtime to the Anaheim Ducks on Oct. 26.

The Bruins have done it with defence and goaltending, allowing just 1.56 goals against per game, while the Golden Knights are third at 2.20.

Both teams are closer to the middle of the pack when it comes to the power play, with Vegas sitting 12th (22.9 per cent) and the Bruins 17th (16.7 per cent). However, they both make up for it on the penalty kill. The Bruins lead the NHL at 97.3 per cent on the PK, while Vegas comes in at No. 5 with an 89.7 per cent rate.

The goaltenders on both teams have been strong in the early going. In save percentage, the Bruins’ tandem of Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark are third (.957) and fifth (.939) respectively, while Vegas’ Logan Thompson and Adin Hill are eighth (.931) and 12th (.923).

Offensively, the Bruins are being paced by star winger David Pastrnak, who has eight goals and 14 points in nine games, with new captain Brad Marchand at five goals and nine points. William Karlsson leads Vegas with 11 points in 10 games, closely followed by Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore with 10 points each.

At the other end of the spectrum are the San Jose Sharks, who have yet to win a game this season in nine attempts. The Sharks sport a league-worst -26 goal differential, scoring nine goals (league worst) and allowing 34 (third worst). Their highest scorer is Tomas Hertl with one goal and five points.

The goaltending duo of Mackenzie Blackwood and Kaapo Kahkonen have been solid behind a rebuilding squad, with both goalies sporting a .907 save percentage. The Sharks are 32nd in shots for at 24.6 per game and worst in shots against, allowing an average of 38.3 per game.

On special teams, the Sharks are 17th on the penalty kill at 76.5 per cent while their power play is at 12.5 per cent.

The only point San Jose has picked up this season was a 2-1 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Oct. 14. The Sharks have allowed three or more goals in eight of nine games played and six goals against twice. In their last four games, they’ve scored just two goals.

The Sharks finished 29th overall in the standings last season and just one month into this campaign, the focus for them is on the NHL draft lottery rather than the playoff picture.

“The Silver Shield” is a column by Kasey Kazliner about the National Hockey League.

Welcome to The Silver Shield, a weekly column covering the NHL’s controversies, news and stories. My name is Kasey Kazliner, and I’m a freshman from the Bay Area. I’ve been a hockey fan for as long as I can remember and have supported the Sharks through all of the annual disappointment. I’m proud to be a fan of a sport that truly deserves more recognition, especially in California.

The Sharks suck, again

I didn’t choose to feature the Sharks this week just because I’m a fan. In fact, I really wish that I didn’t have to portray them in such a negative light. But, here we are. The Sharks are the worst team in the NHL and are the only one without a win, with a 0-8-1 record thus far.

San Jose is coming off of four straight non-playoff seasons after being among the league’s best for quite some time. In search of a new identity after the departures of iconic names such as Brent Burns and Joe Pavelski in recent years, the Sharks look like a trainwreck through nine games.

Well, why are the Sharks so bad? The answer to this question is more complicated than you might think. San Jose’s schedule has been about as rigorous as can be to start the year. With games against the 2023 Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights, runner-up Panthers and perennial powerhouses Avalanche and Lightning, the Sharks were set up for failure as soon as the schedule was released. But, let’s not cut the Sharks too much slack. San Jose is lacking any sort of goal production. Even though last year’s team was uncompetitive, it at least featured defenseman Erik Karlsson, a guy that could rack up points on a night-to-night basis and give the Sharks some light.

Following the departure of Karlsson, the Sharks have no one to boast about. San Jose’s -16 goal differential in five-on-five play is the worst in the NHL, and only two members of the team have more than a single goal thus far.

You can’t really blame the goaltenders for this lackluster start. In the Sharks’ matchup against the Avalanche, Mackenzie Blackwood saved 51 shots, the most by a goaltender in his debut with a new team, ever. However, in typical Sharks fashion, the team found a way to blow a late lead and let their goaltender down in a shootout. The other half of the goalie tandem, Kaapo Kähkönen, hasn’t received any favors either. Against Carolina, the Sharks’ defense allowed 40 shots, but didn’t score any goals of their own. Kähkönen’s 37 saves and stout .925 save percentage went to waste, since the Sharks couldn’t capitalize.

Numbers can tell the story. The Sharks have averaged 3:30 of possession in the offensive zone at even strength, but have allowed opponents to have 6:53 per game. The offense simply isn’t clicking in San Jose.

Aside from all of the negativity, young talent has had glimmers of success and has shown that this team has the capability of being a contender again someday. Youngsters Filip Zadina, Fabian Zetterlund, William Eklund and Thomas Bordeleau have all shined so far. If San Jose can manage to develop these up-and-coming players like how it has done in the past, the Sharks should have a solid team in the next five years or so. In the meantime, though, fans must endure the suffering. Well, actually, with only around 14,000 fans showing up to the Shark Tank every night, the third lowest in the NHL, fans have had enough. If the Sharks want to legitimize themselves as a premier Bay Area sports team, amid unparalleled levels of support for the Warriors and 49ers, San Jose must make changes. Fast.

Looking ahead, we should expect San Jose to be a desperate seller come the trade deadline. While both players have contract clauses that could complicate possible trades, veterans Logan Couture and Tomáš Hertl, who have been with the Sharks for years, are rumored to be seeking out other options. San Jose is a team that craves nostalgia and fears rebuilding, but now is the time to tear it all down before it gets worse.

Oilers vs. Flames: outdoors and in style

Both Alberta teams have struggled this season. The Edmonton Oilers, in particular, have been a major letdown following a 109-point campaign last year. Through eight games, the Oilers are 2-5-1 and have been awful defensively. The ridiculous 8-1 loss to the Canucks on opening night was indicative of Edmonton’s struggles in its own zone. Yes, I know that Connor McDavid has dealt with an upper body injury, but he’s still played in six of their eight games.

The Flames are coming off of a below-average season, when they missed the playoffs following the departure of former all-star Johnny Gaudreau. Right now, Calgary sits at 2-7-1 and is only above the Sharks in the Pacific. The Flames were on a four-game skid heading into the Heritage Classic.

Before I get into what actually happened in the Heritage Classic, I want to talk about the uniforms. Personally, I always look forward to the annual outdoor games in the NHL, specifically because of the exclusive jerseys worn in each of the games. Edmonton rocked beautiful royal blue and orange jerseys that paid tribute to the Edmonton Mercurys, a defunct team that won gold in the 1952 Olympics. The oil-drop logo in the middle with the curved script below it fits very nicely. Calgary gave homage to the also defunct Calgary Stampeders (the hockey team, not the current CFL team) of the 1950s and 1960s. The jerseys feature a cream white base, with red stripes and the iconic flaming “C” logo in the middle. While I personally like the Oilers’ look better, both teams played in style.

The Oilers and Flames met at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, home of the CFL’s Elks. Connor McDavid returned from injury and had an assist, and five different skaters scored for the Oilers. Edmonton was also on a four-game losing streak coming into the game, but snapped it with a 5-2 rout over its local rival.

The game was pretty back-and-forth starting out, with the Oilers going up 3-1 at the first intermission. Calgary cut the deficit to one in the second, but Edmonton ran away with the game in the third. The Oilers’ offense was rock solid in the win. Evander Kane led the way with two assists and a goal.

The Flames and Oilers won’t meet again until late January. Meanwhile, the NHL’s next outdoor game will be a Winter Classic matchup between the Kraken and Golden Knights at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on New Year’s Day.

Adam Johnson dies tragically, and too soon

Former Penguins center Adam Johnson passed away last weekend at the age of 29 after his throat was cut by an opposing player in an Elite Ice Hockey League game in England. Police in South Yorkshire are investigating the incident.

While Johnson only played 13 games in the NHL, he scored his first and only goal with Pittsburgh in 2019. The Penguins honored him at center ice on Monday along with the opposing Ducks. Pittsburgh will sport “AJ47″ decals on its helmets in honor of Johnson.

His death warns the NHL that without proper neck protection, this could happen again. Hockey is a beautiful sport, but it makes the case as the most dangerous. May Johnson rest in peace.

“The Silver Shield” runs every Thursday.

In anticipation of Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical coming to San Jose's Center for the Performing Arts this holiday season, The Grinch will be making stops at several South Bay locations to meet his legion of fans.

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical will perform from November 28–December 3, 2023 as part of Broadway San Jose's 2023/24 season. Single tickets are available now online at broadwaysanjose.com, by calling 408-792-4111, or in-person at the San Jose Civic Box Office (150 W. San Carlos St., San Jose). Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling 669-242-8558. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24 (BLACK FRIDAY)2–4 p.m. — Santana Row – Photo opportunities available in Park Valencia by Maggiano's.

5:20–5:50 p.m. — Signia by Hilton San Jose – Photo opportunities available in front of the hotel by the Enchant Christmas display.

6–6:30 p.m. — Tree Lighting Ceremony at Christmas in the Park

6:40–7:10 p.m. — AJI Bar and Robata Grill - Chill out with Mr. Grinch after a busy day inside Signia by Hilton San Jose.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2511:30 a.m.–12 p.m. — The Tech Interactive** – Photo opportunities available in New Venture Hall.Get 10% off General Admission Tickets with code: GRINCH Terms and Conditions: Valid Tuesday - Sunday between November 25–January 15. 4 tickets maximum allowed with discount. Not valid with other offers or promotions.

3–3:30 p.m. — Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose** — Photo opportunities available at the outdoor amphitheater. Enjoy a sneak peek performance CMT San Jose's production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at 2:30 p.m. before Mr. Grinch arrives! Get 10% off tickets with code: CMT-GRINCH10 for performances from Dec. 1 - 10 at the Montgomery Theater.

4:30–5 p.m. — Downtown Ice** at Circle of Palms

**Admission tickets are required.

The performance schedule for THE GRINCH is as follows: Tuesday, November 28 at 7:30 p.m. (press night); Wednesday, November 29 at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, November 30 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, December 1 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, December 2 at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, December 3 at 1 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.

On Thursday, November 30, Broadway San Jose will host Family Night on Broadway. Guests will be treated to pre-show activities in the Ridder Lounger at San Jose's Center for the Performing Arts from 6–7:15 p.m. A Buy One, Get One 50% Off offer is available using promo code: MISCHIEF. Valid on select balcony seats only while supplies last. Must be purchased in multiples of two. Ticketmaster fees apply.

Hailed by The New York Times as “100 times better than any bedtime story,” this classic holiday musical will enchant adults and children alike. Audiences will discover the magic of Dr. Seuss' classic holiday tale as it comes to life live on stage. Featuring the hit songs “You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas,” THE GRINCH discovers there's more to Christmas than he bargained for in this heart-warming holiday classic. Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming GRINCH, whose heart is “two sizes too small,” decides to steal Christmas away from the holiday-loving Whos.

THE GRINCH broke box office records for two consecutive years on Broadway during its holiday engagements at the St. James and Hilton theaters in New York. Since then, more than 2.5 million theatergoers across America have been delighted by this heart-warming holiday musical, which Gannett hailed as “A genius of a show! A total delight for both kids and adults.”

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical features magnificent sets designed by John Lee Beatty and costumes designed by Robert Morgan, inspired by Dr. Seuss' original book. Mel Marvin and Timothy Mason's music and book breathe new life into this timeless story.

The 2023 production is directed by Matt August and co-directed and choreographed by Bob Richard, based on the original choreography by John DeLuca and originally created by three-time Tony Award-winning director, Jack O'Brien.

For additional information on the production, please visit GrinchMusical.com.

Applications Open for 2024 Emerging Black Composers Project

The San Francisco Symphony, in partnership with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), announced that applications are now open for the fourth annual Emerging Black Composers Project (EBCP) its Michael Morgan Prize, and the Cabrillo Emerging Black Composers Prize.

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DEAR SAN FRANCISCO Comes to Club Fugazi

From Thursday, November 16 through Saturday, December 30, 2023, Club Fugazi will be decking the hall and sprinkling joyful holiday touches into Dear San Francisco, the critically-acclaimed intimate and immersive resident show from The 7 Fingers that pays homage to the stunning beauty, storied characters, and astounding resilience of the City by the Bay.

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Berkeley Rep To Present Alex Edelman's JUST FOR US in January

Berkeley Rep will present Alex Edelman's 'Just for Us' in January. Don't miss this captivating theatrical experience.

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Review: AIN'T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS at Broadway San Jose

What did our critic think of AIN'T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS at Broadway San Jose?

Ilya Mikheyev will be among those in action Thursday when his Vancouver Canucks play the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. There are prop bets for Mikheyev available, and here are some stats to help you with your bets.

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MALIBU, Calif. — The Pepperdine men's water polo team continues to West Coast Conference play this weekend as they hit the road to take on #14 San Jose State on Saturday and #17 Santa Clara on Sunday.

GAME #27 — #5 Pepperdine (22-4) at #14 San Jose State (8-8) | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 1 p.m. | Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center | San Jose, Calif.

GAME #28 — #5 Pepperdine at #17 Santa Clara (11-11), faces Loyola Marymount on Friday | Sunday, Nov. 5 | 12 p.m. | Sullivan Aquatic Center | Santa Clara, Calif.

WATCH/ONLINE — If available, links to broadcasts and/or live stats can be found at PepperdineWaves.com.

OPPONENTS — Pepperdine is 22-7 all-time against San Jose State, having won the last matchup 13-10 in 2022. The Waves are 11-2 all-time against Santa Clara, including a 16-7 win in their last contest against the Broncos in 2018.

LAST WEEK — The #4 Pepperdine men's water polo team defeated #17 California Baptist at Lancer Aquatics Center on Saturday. After trailing 4-2 early in the first quarter, the Waves scored three straight goals to take a 5-4 lead into the second quarter. Pepperdine pulled away in the third quarter and won the contest 16-11.

Then on Sunday, Pepperdine collected two wins at home. In the first game, the Waves jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead. The Waves used this momentum and never looked back as they defeated Air Force 16-11 in a West Coast Conference matchup at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool. In the afternoon against Cal Lutheran, Pepperdine blanked the Kingsmen in the first quarter and took a 7-0 lead into the second period. The Waves cruised to a 17-6 victory as they won their eighth-straight game.

AWARDS — Pepperdine has won three WCC Player of the Week awards. Nico Tierney earned the WCC Player of the Week award on Sept. 26 after posting a total of ten goals and seven assists in four games all against top-10 teams at the MPSF Invite. He also posted a .625 shooting percentage.

Curtis Jarvis earned the program's second WCC Player of the Week of the season on Sept. 19 after having a total of seven goals with an efficient shooting percentage of .875. He also tacked on seven assists for a total of 14 points over four games.

Antonio Knez received the program's first WCC Player of the Week award of the season on Sept. 12 after 35 saves and posting a .686 save percentage over two games.

SEASON NOTABLES — Antonio Knez leads the WCC in saves (243), save percentage (.536) and goals-against average (9.33). Knez is also tied for third in steals in the WCC (32). Matty Walsh is tied for second in the WCC in field blocks (11).

ROSTER NUMBERS — The Waves' 28-man roster breakdown is four graduate students, five seniors, four juniors, eight sophomores and seven freshmen. Pepperdine returns 19 players from last year's roster, including 2022 All-American honorable mention Adam Csapo. The Waves also add 10 newcomers, including an All-American graduate transfer in Antonio Knez and a sharp-shooting graduate transfer in Ryan Brosnan.

WCC — This will be the first year in the West Coast Conference for the Waves. Pepperdine and Pacific are moving into the WCC, where most of their other athletic programs already reside, and they'll be joined by Loyola Marymount and Santa Clara of the Western Water Polo Association, as well as affiliate members Air Force, California Baptist and San Jose State. Pepperdine will host the inaugural WCC Men's Water Polo Conference Tournament at the Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.

POLL —The WCC preseason poll, as decided by the league's coaches, went as follows: Pacific, Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount, San Jose State, Santa Clara, California Baptist and Air Force.

LAST SEASON — Pepperdine finished 13-14 in the fall of 2022 and tied for fourth place in the Gold Coast Conference. The highlight of the season was upsetting #8 UC Santa Barbara 13-12 on Senior Day, overcoming a four-goal third-quarter deficit. The Waves also trailed the Gauchos by two with less than two minutes left to play. Pepperdine's only lead of the game came in the final 11 seconds. Two Waves earned All-American honors, Dennis Blyashov garnered a spot on the third team, while Adam Csapo picked up an honorable mention nod. Blyashov made the All-GCC first team, Csapo earned All-GCC second team and Nico Tierney was an honorable mention. Csapo and Sandor Gal made the GCC All-Freshman team.

WATER POLO HISTORY — Pepperdine won the NCAA title in 1997, which was the last time a school other than California, Stanford, UCLA or USC won the championship. The Waves' exceptional water polo history also includes 12 conference titles, a top-10 ranking in 46 of the last 47 years and a top-five finish 21 times. Pepperdine has had 61 players earn All-American honors a total of 109 times. Three Waves — Mike Grier (1984), Geoffrey Clark (1991) and Alan Herrmann (1997) — were named the national player of the year. Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool hosted the 1984 Olympic water polo competition and the 2000 NCAA Championships.

ABOUT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY — Pepperdine boasts a one-of-a-kind athletic department with unprecedented success for a school of its size. The Waves have won NCAA Division I championships in five different men's sports — one of just 20 schools to have accomplished this feat — and 10 overall. Of this elite group, Pepperdine has the smallest undergraduate enrollment, is the only school without football and is the only university that has not been affiliated with a "major" conference. The Waves have won a total of 26 team or individual national championships in their history. Pepperdine has also earned the Division I-AAA All-Sports Trophy, an award based on postseason success that's given to the top non-football school, five times (most recently in back-to-back years during the 2022-23 and 2021-22). Located in scenic Malibu, California, the university overlooks the Pacific Ocean and its campus and athletic facilities are regularly voted among the nation's most beautiful. Pepperdine, which is affiliated with the Church of Christ, ranks #76 overall on U.S. News and World Report's list of America's best colleges.

San Jose, Calif. - The American Hockey League (@TheAHL) and the San Jose Barracuda (@SJBarracuda), proud affiliate of the San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks), announced today that individual event tickets for both the AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sunday, February 4, and AHL All-Star Challenge on Monday, February 5 are on sale now. The 2024 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Tech CU will take place over a two-day span from Feb. 4-5, 2024, at Tech CU Arena (@TechCUArena) in San Jose.

Tickets for either event start at just $35.

To purchase individual tickets for the All-Star Skills Competition at Tech CU Arena on Sunday, February 4, CLICK HERE.

To purchase individual tickets for the AHL All-Star Challenge at Tech CU Arena on Monday, February 5, CLICK HERE.

The AHL’s All-Stars will head west for the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Tech CU, which will be held in the California for the second time in league history, and the first time since 2020 when the event was in Ontario. The festivities will showcase the Bay Area on an international scale, highlighting the tremendous hockey culture in Northern California.

The 2024 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Tech CU will include the AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sunday, February 4, followed by the AHL Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony on Monday, February 5 and the AHL All-Star Challenge that evening.

ABOUT TECH CU

Tech CU is a $4.8 billion Bay Area credit union. As a federally insured not-for-profit organization, Tech CU has invested its resources to deliver superior rates, lower fees, and outstanding service and member benefits for more than 60 years while also supporting quality of life in local communities. It serves more than 170,000 members throughout the United States and provides financial products for all stages of its members’ lives, including personal banking, wealth management, private banking, commercial lending, and business banking. In 2021, Tech CU was named one of America’s best-in-state credit unions by Forbes. S&P Global Market Intelligence has regularly named Tech CU as one of the best-performing credit unions with assets of $100 million or more in California and one of the top 30 nationally (2017-2021). To learn more, please visit www.techcu.com.

The 2024 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Tech CU will feature the top young talent in the American Hockey League: since 1995, more than 94 percent of All-Star Classic participants have gone on to compete in the National Hockey League, including Cam Atkinson, Drake Batherson, Jordan Binnington, Jack Campbell, John Carlson, Thatcher Demko, Lukas Dostal, Connor Hellebuyck, Tristan Jarry, Jordan Kyrou, Jonathan Marchessault, Jacob Markstrom, Brandon Montour, William Nylander, Kyle Palmieri, Mikko Rantanen, Dylan Strome, Tyler Toffoli, Linus Ullmark, Vitek Vanecek and Mats Zuccarello, as well as current San Jose Sharks Logan Couture, Mike Hoffman, Luke Kunin, Thomas Bordeleau, Kaapo Kahkonen, Mackenzie Blackwood and Jacob Macdonald.

In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League serves as the top development league for the players, coaches, managers, executives, broadcasters and staff of all 31 National Hockey League teams. Nearly 90 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame spent time in the AHL in their careers. In 2018-19, over 7 million fans attended AHL regular-season and playoff games across North America.

#SJBarracuda

November 2 - Times have indeed changed this season for the Vancouver Canucks. Just winning is not good enough.

As the Canucks head to San Jose to face the Sharks Thursday, it comes with the joy of Tuesday's 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators, which has them on a 4-0-1 run and continuing a solid start to the season.

While Elias Pettersson collected a hat trick and Quinn Hughes netted three assists, coach Rick Tocchet is not about to sing his team's praises.

"That's not our brand of hockey. We were pretty loose. Too many turnovers. It wasn't a great game for us identity-wise," Tocchet said. "We got to be careful we don't get fat and happy around here."

Tocchet was not pleased even during the game. For example, veteran forward J.T. Miller was benched in the second period after receiving his third penalty. Miller was back in the rotation in the third period and scored.

"It makes everybody know they're accountable," Tocchet said. "Some guys get a little longer leash. ... I'm not going to sit him in the third period. He's done too many good things for me and his teammates, and when he scored his teammates were so happy for him."

After all that, expect a confident but more focused Canucks squad.

"I was pretty hot and took some bad penalties," Miller said. "The team did a great job killing it off, so it was just letting me cool off for the last couple of minutes of the second period. That's pretty much all it was."

The Sharks are back home, still looking for their first victory of the season. San Jose, at the bottom of the league standings, has just one extra-time loss with eight regulation-time defeats.

The Sharks scored only three goals during a fruitless five-game road trip and have nine goals in nine games this season, having tallied more than one goal in only one outing.

"Right now, we have such a thin margin for error," said coach David Quinn, who has a tough task keeping elevated his players' spirits. "Usually, if you only give up two goals, you like your chances, and right now, we're really snake bit."

San Jose is coming off a particularly disappointing 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals Sunday, having blown a third-period 1-0 lead.

"I hope we're going in the right direction to putting a full 60 (minute performance) together," forward Luke Kunin said. "We just fell short there the last little bit. So, it obviously stings. It's frustrating. It's hard. Everyone in that locker room, everyone in this organization wants to win, and that's our mindset. So, when you're not, it's tough."

San Jose, which has been without captain Logan Couture all season due to injury, has seen veteran Alexander Barabanov knocked out of action for four-to-six weeks due to a broken finger. They also will remain without key defenseman Matt Benning for at least another week due to injury, who will receive an infusion.

Defenseman Nikita Okhotiuk and forward/defenseman Jacob MacDonald are expected to play their first NHL games of the season. Okhotiuk, who was injured when the Sharks acquired him in the trade that sent Timo Meier to New Jersey last season, is yet to play for San Jose. He had core-muscle surgery in April. He played in five AHL games this season. MacDonald is yet to play this season after an injury suffered early in training camp.

--Field Level Media

J.T. Miller and Fabian Zetterlund are two of the most exciting players to watch when the Vancouver Canucks play the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose on Thursday, November 2 at 10:30 PM ET.

If you're looking to attend this matchup in person, head to Ticketmaster to buy your tickets!

Canucks vs. Sharks Game Information

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SAN JOSE – For the still-winless San Jose Sharks, there is no such thing right now as leaving your problems at the rink.

“When I go home after a game or I’m sitting in a hotel room after a road game,” Sharks center Nico Sturm said, “it bothers me a great deal.”

“I’m coming home, I’m pissed off, just thinking about what I could have done and what we should have done,” Sharks winger Anthony Duclair said, “and thinking about the next game and how to get out of this.”

There are no easy answers for a Sharks team that went winless in October, has scored nine goals in nine games, and is now two losses away from tying the NHL record for most consecutive defeats to start a season with 11, shared by the 1943-44 New York Rangers and the Arizona Coyotes in both 2017-2018 and 2021-22.

Oh, and injured top-six forwards Logan Couture (lower body) and Alexander Barabanov (broken finger) will both be out for a few more weeks, at least.

But if there is any positivity to be had right now for the Sharks (0-8-1), it’s that after facing some NHL heavyweights over the first three weeks of the season, the strength of their schedule eases up, if only a little bit.

The Sharks open their homestand with games against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday and Erik Karlsson and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. While the Canucks are off to a 6-2-1 start, the Penguins are an unsightly 3-6-0, even with Karlsson’s six points in nine games.

That’s followed by games against the Philadelphia Flyers (4-4-1) next Tuesday and Connor McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers (2-5-1) on Nov. 9.

Hardly a walk in the park for a Sharks team that’s held a lead in just four of their nine games, but also not quite the murderer’s row they just wrapped up with five games against teams that won their respective divisions last season, and at least three other games against playoff-caliber opponents.

“We’ve just got to keep moving forward,” Sharks coach David Quinn said. “We can’t let one loss — or even seven — get in the way of our next game. We’ve just got to keep playing.”

If the Sharks are to avoid tying or setting a new league record for most losses to start a season, they’ll obviously need to find a way to score more than one goal per game, an average seen only once in nearly 70 years. The 2015-16 Anaheim Ducks also had nine goals in nine games, matching a mark set by that World War-era Rangers team.

Getting Mikael Granlund back helps solidify the Sharks down the middle, as now they have more of an experienced No. 2 centerman to play behind Tomas Hertl. Granlund formed an effective line with William Eklund and Luke Kunin on Sunday against the Washington Capitals, as the trio, per Natural Stat Trick, collected 11 scoring chances.

Now it’s about getting some other lines going, particularly the top line of Tomas Hertl, Fabian Zetterlund, and Duclair, who had an up-and-down game against the Capitals.

“It was one of those games where out of the nine, we could have won,” Duclair said. “I thought we played pretty well for the most part. Obviously, there were some breakdowns that cost us, which are going to happen against teams with some top-end skill.

“For us, it’s not just playing well in spurts, it’s playing a full 60 and I think we took a good step, but obviously not enough still.”

Tuesday’s practice was lively and competitive, with the Sharks split up into two groups, one in teal and one in white, playing games of three-on-three in small zones. Team Teal was down by three goals late in the proceedings, but scored four unanswered to win the contest, with the final goal setting off a wild celebration that mirrored a winner scored in a regular game.

Team White had to do sprints up and down the ice as a result of coming up short.

Afterward, players were smiling and having some fun for a change and were maybe in a more positive frame of mind than at the start of the day.

“We want to keep the spirits high in here,” Sharks winger Mike Hoffman said. “You want to be having fun.”

“It can spiral really quickly,” Sturm said. “But everybody here cares, I can tell you that.”