- Editor's Note: Sheng Peng will be a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
The Sharks say they haven’t given up on the playoffs, but you sure couldn’t tell Wednesday night.
“It’s on the forwards, it’s on the defensemen, it’s on the goalie,” coach David Quinn said Wednesday night after the Sharks’ 6-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. “All three positions have to be better defensively.”
The Sharks entered action 11 points out of the last Western Conference wild card spot. It’s actually just the fourth time in franchise history the Sharks have been double-digit points out of the playoffs on Christmas.
In the 1995-96 NHL season, after a 3-18-4 start resulted in coach Kevin Constantine getting canned, the Sharks were 13 points out of the postseason at Christmas. In 1992-93, that second season when the Sharks went a franchise-worst 11-71-2, they were 20 points out at Christmas. In 1991-92, San Jose's debut campaign, the Sharks were 12 points out at Christmas.
The Sharks have made the playoffs three times when out of it at Christmas, but not from that far back. The 2005-06 Sharks were four points out at Christmas, the 1998-99 Sharks were five points out, and the 1993-94 Sharks were three points out.
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But these Sharks haven’t given us reason to believe that they’re going to make up much ground.