As the Sharks sleepwalked Thursday through their second clunker of the week, one had to wonder whether this deep and experienced team has banked enough energy for the postseason.
Sure, San Jose has posted convincing wins over Buffalo and Dallas since laying an egg last Saturday against Nashville. But against the Predators and Blues — two teams with a more urgent need for points than the Sharks — the hosts were clearly outworked.
The March schedule — 16 games in 30 nights — is proving to be a grind. This is on top of 34 road games to date, a short offseason, and the team’s biggest minute-munchers involved in the preseason World Cup of Hockey tourney.