Sharks takeaways: Soon after decline to Predators, Quinn concerns mental toughness

Tomas Hertl appeared to have tears in his eyes as he sang together to the Czech Republic’s nationwide anthem prior to the commence of the San Jose Sharks normal season recreation with the Nashville Predators at O2 Arena in Prague.

Then in his initial NHL sport in his hometown, Hertl set off a wild celebration inside the 17,000-seat arena, with a to start with-time period goal that was followed by an exuberant fist pump.

“It was a unique minute for me,” Hertl explained to the Sharks Audio Network right after the 1st time period. “Scoring in front of my household when they observed me enjoying here 10 many years back, and I was just so psyched. I do not even know what I was doing.”

Those people were effortlessly the Sharks’ largest highlights Friday as they opened the year with a 4-1 reduction to the Predators, a result that adopted a very similar script as decades previous.

Goalie James Reimer stopped 28 of 31 pictures, but the Sharks couldn’t get a next puck previous Nashville’s Juuse Saros, who had 30 will save.

Hertl’s line with Timo Meier and Luke Kunin, for each Natural Stat Trick, provided 2 times as a lot of scoring likelihood as any other Sharks line, a little something that occurred with regularity about the previous two or a few seasons.

The Sharks will consider to accurate those challenges Saturday when they engage in the Predators to conclude the NHL’s World wide Collection in Prague.

Takeaways from Friday’s Sharks decline.

1. Psychological TOUGHNESS QUESTIONED: The Sharks began Friday’s video game playing the up-tempo fashion mentor David Quinn has been preaching, as they stayed intense on the forecheck and fired pucks on Saros whenever possible.

But Nino Niederreiter’s purpose late in the 2nd interval that gave Nashville a two-intention direct appeared to zap whatsoever enthusiasm the Sharks had still left, and the Predators typically cruised from there.

“I liked some of the issues we were undertaking but at the time they built it 3-1, I truly assumed there was a massive disparity in the way they performed in contrast to the way we played,” Quinn claimed. “I imagined the last 25 minutes, they truly took it to us and I imagined we bought a tiny little bit demoralized.

“We’ve acquired to toughen up a very little bit mentally in that department.”

Hertl’s objective at the 8:36 mark of the initially period of time gave the Sharks a elevate right after Nashville’s Kiefer Sherwood experienced scored 61 seconds into the recreation.

Quinn felt the Sharks stayed engaged immediately after Eeli Tolvanen scored 1:24 into the second period of time for a 2-1 Predators lead. But Niederreiter’s target off a rather pass from Dante Fabbro on a 2-on-1 generally sealed the deal.

Matt Duchene scored an empty-internet objective with 32 seconds left in the third time period, as the Sharks are now 1-6-1 versus the Predators considering that March 2019.

The Sharks were being 4-31-3 very last time when trailing following two durations, and 9-29-6 when the opponent scored the initially target.

Most NHL teams have similar profitable percentages beneath individuals situations. In addition, the Predators are expected to make the playoffs this year although the Sharks will struggle to keep out of the Pacific Division basement.

Continue to, Quinn would like the Sharks to participate in with a distinct mentality than in the past.

“When you do get scored upon, you have received to combat again, which I assumed we did following we gave up the to start with one early,” Quinn said. “But in the previous 25 minutes, they definitely form of established the tone and took it to us.”

2. Enjoy THE Young ones?: It’ll be appealing to see what Quinn and his staff do in reaction to the reduction. Definitely, some lineup changes will be viewed as, with possibly possibly Thomas Bordeleau or William Eklund dressing for Saturday.

Right after the Sharks’ third line of Nick Bonino, Noah Gregor, and Matt Nieto was out-chanced 10-3 on Friday, maybe the most most likely alter would be Bordeleau or Eklund replacing Nieto, who would then potentially shift to the fourth line.

Quinn said right after Friday’s sport that it was also soon to contemplate lineup improvements, and the Sharks want to just take their time with their top two prospective buyers. However, Bordeleau and Eklund produced the excursion and could give the base six forward group with a jolt.

It also wouldn’t be a shock to see Jaycob Megna swap Scott Harrington as Erik Karlsson’s protection lover. Harrington experienced 15:38 of ice time in his very first NHL video game since January but built a questionable final decision in the neutral zone to move up on Kiefer Sherwood, who acquired a go as a result of to Dante Fabbro for a 2-on-1 that led to the Niederreiter intention.