SAN JOSE — As much as the return of Evander Kane and the signing of Patrick Marleau have helped the Sharks turn things around after one of the worst starts in franchise history, their record might look a lot different now if it wasn’t for their penalty kill.
The Sharks had to kill a third period penalty to protect a one-goal lead in their Oct. 10 game against Chicago, scored shorthanded and killed two more third period penalties in their two-goal win over Calgary on Sunday, then killed four penalties after the first period in what became a three-goal win over Carolina on Wednesday.