Now is not the time for the San Jose Sharks to be mired in their worst losing streak of the season.
The lowly Dallas Stars crushed San Jose 6-1 on Friday night, handing the Sharks their fifth consecutive defeat and allowing the surging Anaheim Ducks to draw even with San Jose atop the Pacific Division with 91 points.
While the Sharks still lead the division courtesy of their three-game advantage in the regulation-or-overtime wins column, their downward spiral leaves them with only eight remaining regular-season contests to right the ship.
It also comes as the Ducks - who've won the last four Pacific Division titles - have reeled off three straight victories, including Friday's win over the Winnipeg Jets. Anaheim has prevailed in five of its last six and seven of its last nine games.
The Sharks obviously don't want to stumble into the playoffs like this, but it seemed like they might do just the opposite before the losing streak began on March 16.
Prior to this rough patch, San Jose won seven of nine, scoring 28 goals and allowing only 15 (less than two per game) in that span. In the five losses since then, they've scored only five goals.
While they drove possession during the previous run of success, the Sharks' even-strength Corsi For percentage during their losing skid has actually been better.
So, shot attempts and puck possession aren't the issues. Clearly, the problem has simply been the inability to bury their chances, and the fact that beyond two inexcusable losses to the Stars, this five-game set has also matched them up against the St. Louis Blues, the Ducks, and the Minnesota Wild.
Can't blame the schedule, though, and it doesn't get any easier over the rest of the month:
Date
Opponent
3/25
@NSH
3/28
NYR
3/30
@EDM
3/31
@CGY
On Friday afternoon, Ducks forward Corey Perry talked about the timing of streaks and skids over the course of an 82-game season, and his comments are even more relevant after the evening's results.
“You peak at the wrong time, you’re in trouble,” Perry told Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register. “You want to start peaking at the right time at the end of the year. Of course you want to play consistent(ly) and avoid big roller coasters all season long."
The Sharks and Ducks have been moving in opposite directions lately, and it's Anaheim that appears to be peaking at the right time while San Jose has allowed both the Ducks and the Edmonton Oilers to threaten their lead atop the division.
The pressure's now squarely on the Sharks to turn things around quickly if they hope to head into the playoffs on a high note and return to the Stanley Cup Final this spring.
The Bruins' No. 1 netminder will miss the contest with what's only being referred to as a "lower-body" ailment, the club announced.
Anton Khudobin will start in place of Rask, who's considered day to day, and Boston recalled goaltender Zane McIntyre from the AHL on an emergency basis earlier Saturday.
The Islanders are sitting in the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot with a game in hand on the Bruins. Both clubs have 82 points.
Rask allowed five goals on 28 shots in a 6-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.
The former University of North Dakota standout's sophomore season came to a close Friday night when the Fighting Hawks were eliminated by Boston University in double overtime in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Boeser followed up his 27-goal, 60-point freshman campaign with 16 goals and 34 points this season.
The NHLPA, MLBPA, and other women's hockey players have all voiced solidarity with the U.S. team, which is threatening to stay home from the upcoming World Championship if their dispute isn't resolved.
Hakstol became the first NCAA head coach to leave the collegiate ranks for an NHL head coaching position since 1982 when he departed the University of North Dakota for the Flyers in 2015.
Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.
Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Saturday, March 25 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockeyand apply to 5v5 situations):
Dynamic Duos
C Connor McDavid (81K) and LW Patrick Maroon (38K), Oilers (vs. Avalanche): Surprisingly, McDavid and Maroon combined for just two assists in Edmonton's 7-4 win in Colorado on Thursday; chances are, they'll do more damage in the second leg of a home-and-home with the NHL's bottom-feeder. McDavid's six-game point streak has padded his Art Ross Trophy lead, while Maroon notched four goals and three assists in that span.
C Nicklas Backstrom (61K) and RW T.J. Oshie (51K), Capitals (vs. Coyotes): A straightforward selection, Backstrom and Oshie have combined for 52 goals and 77 assists as two-thirds of Washington's first line and top power play unit. Reasonably-priced and with a favorable home matchup against Arizona, which allows the most expected goals per 60 minutes, it's hard to look past this productive pairing.
LW Jeff Skinner (47K) and RW Lee Stempniak (36K), Hurricanes (at Devils): Undoubtedly flying under the radar, Skinner has notched nine goals and 13 points in March, getting his name on the score sheet in all but three of 12 games. Stempniak is rarely explosive, but had faithfully recorded an assist in five of six games before a two-goal outburst Thursday.
Goalie Breakdown
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
BARGAIN - Richard Bachman (75K), Canucks (at Wild): For those who feel like gambling with their netminder selection, Bachman has been stellar in a small sample, stopping 63 of the 66 shots he's faced through two starts and stealing a 2-1 road win in Anaheim with a 44-save performance. The Wild are in a slump, having lost nine of their 12 games in March.
TARGET - Braden Holtby (86K), Capitals (vs. Coyotes): Holtby is surprisingly affordable, given that he's won four of his last five starts and has allowed just over two goals per game for the season. With Washington, the NHL's best team, playing host to Arizona, the second-worst, it's hard to imagine Holtby not coming away with his 39th victory of the campaign.
FADE - Thomas Greiss (120K), Islanders (vs. Bruins): Greiss didn't suit up Friday, but his teammates will nevertheless be playing the second of back-to-back games. The Islanders rank second in expected goals allowed per 60 minutes, so even at home, it's doubtful that they'll be able to keep a potent Bruins offense at bay enough to where Greiss can live up to his hefty salary.
CONTRARIAN - Jake Allen (99K), Blues (vs. Flames): Allen's been nearly impenetrable in March, holding a 7-1-0 record in eight starts with a 1.26 GAA. Considering how badly he struggled earlier in the season, this level of performance isn't sustainable, but he's worth rostering while on a roll. Calgary has dropped two straight games, both on the road, after a stretch in which it won 12 of 13 contests.
Bargain Plays
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
LW Ryan Hartman (29K), Blackhawks (at Panthers): Listed at LW in Squad Up, Hartman has recently been centering Chicago's second line of Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin, the team's two leading scorers. The change has energized Hartman, who after going without a point for March's first eight games, has responded with three goals and 13 shots over his last four contests.
C Nick Schmaltz (25K), Blackhawks (at Panthers): Another bargain Blackhawk, Schmaltz formerly held Hartman's role on the Kane-Panarin line, but is now skating with Marian Hossa and Marcus Kruger. Schmaltz has managed a three-game assist streak with some power play time mixed in.
D Andrej Sekera (29K), Oilers (vs. Avalanche): Sekera leads all Edmonton defensemen with 33 points, even if Oscar Klefbom typically plays ahead of him on the first power play unit. Sekera has contributed at least one point in four of the last six games, with a one-goal, two-assist effort in a recent win over Colorado.
Top Fades
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
C Joe Pavelski (73K), Sharks (at Predators): Pavelski isn't the only underperforming Shark, but he's the highest-priced. During a five-game losing spell in which San Jose has scored just five goals, Pavelski has four shots and a lone assist to his name. Perhaps's Friday's 6-1 defeat to Dallas was rock bottom, but banking on an immediate rebound is a risky proposition.
RW Patrick Kane (99K), Blackhawks (at Panthers): Kane's salary is easily the highest of any non-goaltender, and it's over three times as high as linemate Hartman's. He averages just below a point per game on the road, with 13 goals in 35 contests. At his salary, nothing short of a multi-point effort will do, and there are several cheaper alternatives on his team.
LW Max Domi (57K), Coyotes (at Capitals): Domi has been more productive on the road, with 19 of his 33 points coming away from Arizona. Still, it's hard to imagine how his salary is so high given the poor matchup he faces. Domi has failed to record a point in four of his last five games, and led by the aforementioned Holtby, Washington maintains the NHL's lowest goals against average (2.15).
Contrarian Options
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
D Zach Bogosian (25K), Sabres (vs. Maple Leafs): With eight points in 48 games, Bogosian isn't known for offense, but he played a whopping 33:29 in Buffalo's last game after top-pairing defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen was ejected early on. With Ristolainen now suspended, expect Bogosian to carry a heavy load and even see some unexpected power play time against the at-times erratic Leafs.
C Leon Draisaitl (51K), Oilers (vs. Avalanche): With six straight multi-point games, Draisaitl has arguably been too productive to be deemed a contrarian, but he happens to be listed in the same position as teammate McDavid, so chances are the German is ignored more often than he should. In real life, Draisaitl plays on McDavid's right wing.
LW Viktor Arvidsson (48K), Predators (vs. Sharks): The volume-shooting Arvidsson could easily compound the slumping Sharks' woes. He's scored a goal on seven shots through two previous meetings, and only just had a five-game point streak snapped on Thursday.
While the U.S. women's national team speaks out in its wage dispute with USA Hockey, the governing body's backup plan isn't being well received.
No one invited to replace the boycotting women has publicly declared a desire to take their place.
Many NCAA players tweeted the same statement and hashtag Friday, making their stance clear.
Look at the NCAA women's hockey players refusing to scab on the US Women's Hockey, choosing solidarity over spotlight. This is how we win. pic.twitter.com/cY3gHMpR5W
Players in the National Women's Hockey League have also unanimously dismissed the invitation so far.
"What it basically came down to for us is, 'How do we foster the continued growth and development of women's hockey if we're willing to play at (the) worlds as scabs?'" NWHLPA director and Connecticut Whale player Anya Battaglino told ESPN.com's Johnette Howard.
"We're basically taking the position that if you're not for us, you're against us. I don't know of any player who (gave) USA Hockey (a) 'yes.'"
Blake Bolden of the NWHL's Boston Pride didn't flinch when USA Hockey's invitation arrived in her email inbox Wednesday.
"I didn't even have to open it - I knew what it was about, and I thought, 'Well, the national team women must be doing something right for things to get to this,'" she said.
"It's a bit desperate by USA Hockey. They're going so far as to email every hockey player they can think of, or every player that was in the USA pool that they previously cut and told they were never going to reach out to again. And everyone I know is telling them, 'I support the national team.'"
The U.S. national women's team members threatened to boycott the World Championship - which begins Friday in Michigan - unless significant progress is made in negotiations.
Both the NHLPA and the MLBPA threw their support behind the U.S. women's team Friday.
Training camp, which would have opened earlier this week, has been postponed.
While Buffalo and Toronto are geographically separated by just a 100-mile stretch of highway, the gap is a lot bigger in the hockey world.
Sure, both teams have struggled in seasons past, looking to use their down years to restock their prospect pools so each can re-establish themselves as beasts in the east, but the fact is one team has done a much better job of this than the other.
As it stands, the Maple Leafs are better positioned both now and for the future, and that's because when it has come to retooling the last couple years, Toronto has done it better.
Sabres got ahead of themselves
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
The biggest flaw in the Sabres' rebuild has been the fact that the team got ahead of itself when it "earned" the right to draft Jack Eichel.
Though the team did all it could to tank for Connor McDavid in the 2015 draft, the hockey gods can be cruel. The lottery instead fell in Edmonton's favor, and the team had to settle for Eichel, who's certainly one hell of a consolation prize.
It was a large chunk of their prospect pool gone for two players - one who was then traded last season in McGinn. O'Reilly has been great with the Sabres - there's no denying that - but the team gave up a lot to get him, including a ton of youth that could have been better off developing in the team's system.
Maple Leafs have rid themselves of worst contracts
(Photo courtesy: USA Today Sports)
While the Maple Leafs have been praised for the youngsters they've drafted the last three seasons, those selections wouldn't have been possible had the team not made the decision to rid itself of its biggest and most damaging contracts.
Starting two years ago, the team was able to deal Phil Kessel and the remaining seven years of his eight-year, $64-million contract to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Next - toward the conclusion of last season - they dumped Dion Phaneuf and the six years and $42 million remaining on his contract.
Then, this past offseason, the team was able to upgrade in goal by dealing Jonathan Bernier and his remaining $4.15 million and bringing in Frederik Andersen.
As for the Sabres, they've since inked O'Reilly to a seven-year, $52.5-million deal - though his value can be argued. However, that can't be said for everyone.
Player
Years Remaining
$ Remaining
Evander Kane
1
$5.25M
Tyler Ennis
2
$9.2M
Matt Moulson
2
$10M
Zach Bogosian
3
$15.43M
The four gentlemen are responsible for a total of $40 million in cap space over the next three years. Evander Kane is having a decent campaign with the Sabres and Kyle Okposo - who carries a $6-million cap hit for the next six years - can receive passes, but the same can't be said for the remaining three players.
In all, the Sabres have a handful of contracts with players whose values have dropped significantly. If they could deal or buy out a couple of these contracts they could either acquire young talent or use the money to better restock their roster.
Sabres' prospect pool doesn't touch Maple Leafs'
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Of course, where the biggest line can be draw between these two clubs is in regards to the talent of their respective top prospects.
Dating back to the 2014-15 season - when it can be argued both teams started their transition into rebuilding - the Maple Leafs have gotten the best out of their rookies, and for that appear better equipped for long-term success.
Rank
Player
Team
Year
Points/ Points Projected This Season
1
Auston Matthews
Maple Leafs
2017
67
2
Mitch Marner
Maple Leafs
2017
64
3
William Nylander
Maple Leafs
2017
63
4
Jack Eichel
Sabres
2016
56
5
Sam Reinhart
Sabres
2016
42
*The following three would be Connor Brown, Nikita Zaitsev, and Zach Hyman of the Maple Leafs
Of course, it goes without saying that the Sabres' first-round pick in last year's draft - Alexander Nylander - continues to ferment in the American Hockey League, currently with nine goals and 26 points in 58 games for the Rochester Americans, while Rasmus Ristolainen is quietly proving he could be in the running for a Norris Trophy in a few years' time.
All this is to say the Sabres' rebuild has been far from a failure, but in comparison to their inter-division rivals up north, they're a step behind.
Nine-year-old Caiden Chambers was hoping to come away from his first NHL game with a puck, but got something even better: an invite onto the Carolina Hurricanes' bus.
Caiden, his father Curtis Chambers, and grandfather Dave Lawrence drove 12 hours from Nova Scotia to Montreal on Thursday to watch the Hurricanes play the Canadiens, according to Pat Pickens of NHL.com. Curtis is a Canadiens fan, and Caiden was too until he started playing for the Atom "C" Hurricanes in the fall.
After the game, which the Hurricanes won 4-1, Caiden waited with his family outside the arena in the hopes of getting someone to autograph his puck. That's when head coach Bill Peters invited them to join the team on the bus.
"We couldn't believe it," Curtis said. "I think we all tripped over our jaws walking in."
Caiden wanted a puck at his first @NHL game. Instead, he met the team!
The veteran netminder got credit for a shorthanded marker late in Friday night's game between his Bakersfield Condors - the Edmonton Oilers' AHL affiliate - and the San Diego Gulls, a farm club of the Anaheim Ducks.
Gustavsson was the last Condor to touch the puck when, with about three minutes left and the Gulls' net empty in the midst of a Bakersfield blowout, San Diego forward Corey Tropp uncorked an errant pass with his team on the power play, and the rest was history.
The 32-year-old became only the 12th goaltender to be credited with a goal in the 81-year history of the AHL,
A few months out from the three-year anniversary of the 2014 NHL draft, it's one worth looking back on.
While the top four selections have already played over 150 NHL games, it's clear some highly questionable decisions were made among the first 16 picks, and that some teams would love a mulligan.
Here's a look at how the lottery portion of the draft played out in reality:
Drafted
Team
Player
GP
Points Per Game
1
Panthers
D Aaron Ekblad
227
0.42
2
Sabres
F Sam Reinhart
160
0.54
3
Oilers
F Leon Draisaitl
183
0.70
4
Flames
F Sam Bennett
151
0.40
5
Islanders
F Michael Dal Colle
0
N/A
6
Canucks
F Jake Virtanen
65
0.22
7
Hurricanes
D Haydn Fleury
0
N/A
8
Maple Leafs
F William Nylander
94
0.73
9
Jets
F Nikolaj Ehlers
146
0.66
10
Ducks
F Nick Ritchie
102
0.27
11
Predators
F Kevin Fiala
51
0.27
12
Coyotes
F Brendan Perlini
49
0.39
13
Capitals
F Jakub Vrana
21
0.29
14
Stars
D Julius Honka
10
0.40
The draft, of course, is an inexact science. These guys are kids, after all. There were, however, some notables that went later in the first and in later rounds:
Drafted
Team
Player
GP
Points Per Game
15
Red Wings
F Dylan Larkin
150
0.48
21
Blues
F Robby Fabbri
123
0.54
25
Bruins
F David Pastrnak
164
0.71
79
Lightning
F Brayden Point
59
0.53
112
Predators
F Viktor Arvidsson
133
0.52
Some takeaways:
Draisaitl and Pastrnak have 89 and 70 games on Nylander, respectively, but Nylander's the top producer, so far, on a points-per-game basis.
The Maple Leafs getting Nylander at No. 8 may be one of the most significant footnotes of Toronto's rebuild.
In his first full AHL season, Dal Colle has 14 goals and 21 assists in 35 games. Not exactly worth writing home about, but there's nothing wrong with the Islanders taking their time with the kid, who will be 21 in June.
Fleury's in his first full AHL season, and since defensemen take longer to marinate, it's too early to say Carolina erred here.
The Canucks and Ducks aren't looking too bright right now. Especially the Canucks.
The Jets getting Ehlers at No. 9 was a massive steal.
Redraft
Now that we know what we know, how about we do it again?
With the benefit of hindsight, here's what we think a redraft of the lottery portion of the 2014 class would look like:
1. Panthers: D Aaron Ekblad
Vaswani: There's a reason why Ekblad went first overall, and while there was no consensus first overall choice ahead of the 2014 draft, it's clear Ekblad is a franchise cornerstone defender. He plays in all situations, and he's already been locked up on an eight-year extension. We're going with the scouts on this one. Ekblad remains the top pick, even knowing what we know today.
2. Sabres: F Leon Draisaitl
Cuthbert: The Sabres' rebuild would look a lot different with Draisaitl, who appears to be the most complete forward to come out of the draft.
3. Oilers: F William Nylander
Vaswani: Edmonton was clearly after skill with the No. 3 pick, and perhaps Pastrnak didn't wow because of his draft-year totals in Sweden.
Nylander only had a goal and six assists in 22 games with Modo in 2013-14, while Pastrnak had eight goals and 24 points in 36 games with Sodertalje SK, in Sweden's second-highest league.
Hindsight, though, has gifted us the fact that Nylander is clearly a dynamic offensive talent, and, boy, wouldn't he look good playing alongside Connor McDavid.
4. Flames: F David Pastrnak
Cuthbert: The first player - and only, so far - chosen from the class to hit the 50-goal mark, he has to go in the top five.
Calgary found Johnny Gaudreau in the fourth round in 2011, and took Sean Monahan sixth overall in 2013. Imagine what the Flames would look like up front with Pastrnak in tow.
5. Islanders: F Nikolaj Ehlers
Vaswani: You know who would look great on John Tavares' wing? Young Nikolaj Ehlers, who ripped apart the QMJHL in 2013-14, scoring 49 goals in 63 games and finishing with 104 points. He added 11 goals and 28 points in 16 playoff games. And based on early returns in the NHL, he may be a steal at No. 5, too.
6. Canucks: F Sam Reinhart
Cuthbert: There's nothing wrong with Reinhart's 0.54 points-per-game average, and he's the perfect player to compliment a star. Question is, does Vancouver have any beyond the twins? (While he may get there, Bo Horvat's not at that level just yet.)
7. Hurricanes: F Dylan Larkin
Vaswani: Carolina's selected a defenseman with its top pick in three straight drafts and four since 2011. Sorry, but drafting by positional need's a no-no. They're taking Larkin, who has the speed and offensive talent to be a consistent force in the league with time.
8. Maple Leafs: F Robby Fabbri
Cuthbert: Sam Bennett may have greater upside, but whether he reaches his potential is up in the air. Fabbri, pending his recovery from a torn ACL, is a lock to be a productive top-six forward for a long time.
9. Jets: F Sam Bennett
Vaswani: The kid infamous for being unable to do a pull-up ends up in Winnipeg alongside some top offensive talent.
10. Ducks: F Viktor Arvidsson
Cuthbert: Already drowning in solid, young talent, imagine what the Ducks would look like with Arvidsson instead of Nick Ritchie. The Las Vegas Golden Knights would certainly be pleased had things worked out this way.
11. Predators: F Michael Dal Colle
Vaswani: Dal Colle impressed as a 16-year-old in the OHL, and finished sixth in league scoring as a 17-year-old, leading his Oshawa club in scoring with 95 points in 67 games. He falls out of the top 10, but lands on a good team in the process.
12. Coyotes: G Thatcher Demko
Cuthbert: Is there a succession plan in the crease in Arizona? There should be.
13. Capitals: F Jake Virtanen
Vaswani: There has to be more to Virtanen than pure evil. He was the sixth-rated North American skater, and there'd be a hell of a lot less pressure on him in D.C.
14. Stars: D Haydn Fleury
Cuthbert: Defensemen take time. Even at No. 7, there's no reason to suggest Fleury won't live up to his draft position, so the Stars would be ecstatic to land him at 14.
