
PHILADELPHIA –- For the first time this season, Sharks defenseman and former first-round pick Mirco Mueller has played consecutive NHL games. He drew into the lineup on Saturday in Buffalo in place of Matt Tennyson, and remained there for Tuesday’s tilt in Boston.
He hasn’t done a whole lot of note, but for a young defenseman on a third pairing, that should be viewed as a positive. Mueller hasn’t been on the ice for any Sharks goals, but he hasn’t been on for any goals-against, either.
More importantly, his team has won both games, and three in a row overall headed into Thursday’s game at the Flyers.
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“I think if I don’t get scored on on a nightly basis, I can stay in the lineup,” Mueller said on Thursday. “That’s what I’m trying to do.”
The 20-year-old was disappointed to not make the NHL club out of training camp. He spent the majority of last season on the Sharks rather than go back to juniors, also suiting up for the Swiss team in the World Junior Championships in late December/early January.
In six games with the AHL Barracuda this year, Mueller has two points (1 goal, 1 assist) and six penalty minutes. He was recalled just before the Sharks’ six-game road trip.
Although he's been in, Mueller is still being sheltered by the coaching staff. In Buffalo on Saturday, he took only two shifts in the third period as Pete DeBoer shortened his bench in a close game. Tuesday in Boston, he sat for the final 14 minutes while the Sharks nursed a one-goal lead. He played 9:28 in Buffalo and 10:26 in Boston.
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“It’s obviously hard not playing at the end because you want to chip in and try to help as much as you can,” Mueller said. “But, I think I played a bit more last game, so hopefully it’s a trend up.”
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DeBoer has said previously that Mueller’s skating is his strongest asset. After a brief one-game stint with the Sharks on Oct. 22, he was reassigned back to the minors with a couple bullet points from DeBoer and assistant coach Bob Boughner.
“We’ve talked to him about consistency, number one -– as a young guy, bringing that A-game every night and trying not to have off nights,” Boughner said.
“Being more assertive is two. Pete and I both wanted him to put himself out more in situations and be a little more aggressive and assertive. He certainly has done that since he’s been back the last couple games.”
The points are related. It’s obvious that Mueller knows he has to be consistent to stay in the lineup. In order to play that consistent game, when to be aggressive and when to make the safe play is crucial.
Mueller said: “It comes with experience –- when you can join the rush, when you can carry the puck, when to move it. It’s getting better with every game, I think. Practice is obviously important. Try to practice as you play in a game is important at this level.”
Mueller’s partner, Brenden Dillon, has seen a year-over-year improvement from the player that the Sharks traded up to select with the 18th overall pick in the 2013 draft.
For both, including the 24-year-old Dillon, it helps having veterans around to lean on.
“Even for myself, to be able to have guys like Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Paul Martin [around], these guys you learn from every day,” Dillon said. “If I’m [Mueller], I’m soaking in every practice and every game.
“I think he’s definitely learning little things. He’s a big guy that can skate and he’s still [20] years old. Just talking with him and communicating is something I try to do before games when we’re paired together. Let’s be hard, simple and physical, and use our strengths.”