SAN JOSE – When the Sharks returned home from sweeping a six-game road trip, it looked like it could be an early turning point in their season. They were finally playing new coach Pete DeBoer’s system without having to think, and were overcoming the loss of key forward Logan Couture, who is still sidelined.
Not so fast.
Following a 4-3 loss to the Lightning at home on Saturday, the Sharks have now lost four of their last five after that impressive East Coast swing. At 14-12-0, they are sinking right back into the middle of the pack in what is the weakest division in the NHL.