SAN JOSE — As much as the return of Evander Kane and the signing of Patrick Marleau have helped the Sharks turn things around after one of the worst starts in franchise history, their record might look a lot different now if it wasn’t for their penalty kill.
The Sharks had to kill a third period penalty to protect a one-goal lead in their Oct. 10 game against Chicago, scored shorthanded and killed two more third period penalties in their two-goal win over Calgary on Sunday, then killed four penalties after the first period in what became a three-goal win over Carolina on Wednesday.
“I’d say two out of three times,” Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic said, “the penalty kill wins you games.”
As it is, the Sharks enter Saturday’s home game against the Buffalo Sabres with a 3-4-0 record, and penalty kill that entered Friday ranked fourth in the NHL at 91.7 percent.
That percentage will vary wildly early in the season, but the Sharks have six points in the bank now in part because of their work on special teams. Goalies Martin Jones and Aaron Dell have combined to make 10 saves while shorthanded the last three games.
“I think we were pretty good last year. We had a dip last year for a couple games that got the percentage down,” Sharks forward Melker Karlsson said. “But so far, we’re working hard. It’s been a pretty big part of our game right now when we’re winning.”
The Sharks penalty kill was inside the NHL’s top 10 for most of the 2018-19 season but went through a tough stretch in March. In 15 games that month, the Sharks allowed 11 goals on 41 penalty kill attempts.
The Sharks at that time were trying to earn layers to their penalty kill unit, with Sharks coach Pete DeBoer saying they got away from the foundation they had established through much of the season. The unit finished the season ranked 15th in the NHL at 80.8 percent.
“We tried to add some things to what we were doing and complicated it,” DeBoer said. “Instead of doing a few little things really well, we complicated the picture a little bit and kind of lost that foundation.
“We reset it heading into the final stretch and into the playoffs, and I thought it got back in the playoffs to where it needed to be.”
The Sharks lost two key pieces from their penalty kill units from last season.
One, defenseman Justin Braun, was second on the team in shorthanded time on ice with 178 minutes and 50 seconds over 78 games. He also blocked a team-high 37 shots while shorthanded. Joe Pavelski also played a smaller role on the PK.
Those holes have been filled in part this season by Mario Ferraro and Timo Meier, although Vlasic, Brent Burns, Brenden Dillon and Erik Karlsson are still doing the lion’s share. Up front, Barclay Goodrow, Melker Karlsson and Tomas Hertl have led the way.
“It’s the same thing. You lose a good PKer up front (Pavelski) and one of the PKers in the league on defense (Braun), so it’s a big hole to fill,” Vlasic said. “But it’s the same system, same in-zone pressure, same forecheck. It’s about the new guys or whoever hadn’t played it last year blocking shots, getting in lanes, having good sticks.”
The Sharks’ kill will face a stiff test from the Sabres, who entered Friday with the third best power play in the NHL at 35.5 percent through eight games. Buffalo has scored 11 times with the man advantage in 31 tries.
Sabres rookie Victor Olofsson was tied for the league lead with six power play goals, and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and center Jack Eichel have combined for 10 power play assists.
“They have threats on both flanks. Eichel and Olofsson can really shoot it,” Melker Karlsson said. “It’s going to be managing their (seam passes) in the middle, so they can’t switch sides all the time. Keep them on one side hopefully.”
▪ The Sharks reassigned Danil Yurtaykin to the Barracuda on Friday morning. Yurtaykin had been a healthy scratch for three of the last four games after Kane returned from his suspension.
Later Friday, per the AHL transactions page, the Sharks recalled forward Noah Gregor from the Barracuda. Gregor, a fourth round draft choice by the Sharks in 2016, has three points in three Barracuda games this season. He has yet to make his NHL debut.
In the four games he played, Yurtaykin, 22, averaged 13 minutes of ice time, playing mainly in a top nine forward role. He did not have a point.
“What we tell all guys when they go down is they’ll decide when they come back up,” DeBoer said/. “This league, week-to-week, you’re looking to bring someone in. Somebody’s hurt and you need another guy.
“There is no plan (with Yurtaykin) other than go down and play well and we’re going to recall the best players down there. He’s got to play games, he’s got to get stronger. You can see the skill and you like some things.”
Yurtaykin has a tutor, will also be helped by Evgeni Nabokov in learning English.
“There’s a lot of things he can develop down there,” DeBoer said.
▪ Forward Lukas Radil was ill Friday morning and missed practice. He’s considered day-to-day. Lean Bergmann took Radil’s spot on the fourth line with Melker Karlsson and Dylan Gambrell.
