SAN JOSE – The Sharks already believe they’re a very good hockey team. Last season’s run to the Stanley Cup Final, and this season’s comfortable lead in the Pacific Division are examples 1A and 1B of why they’re correct about that.
But last Sunday’s lopsided loss in Minnesota, a club challenging for the President’s Trophy, was a dud. Even though it was a rare regulation defeat in the second half of a season in which the Sharks are regularly collecting points, the fact they were so soundly beaten at this late stage of the season by a club that they may have to face in the playoffs at some point had to be a bit disturbing.