The San Jose Sharks have never in their history started a season with six straight losses.
But that’s a very real possibility now after the Sharks’ latest defeat, a 5-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Saturday that dropped the team’s record to 0-4-1.
Tommy Novak scored twice and goalie Juuse Saros made 31 saves to lead the Predators at Bridgestone Arena.
Tomas Hertl scored the only goal for San Jose, which has scored just seven goals in their first five games.
“We’re hard-pressed to generate any type of offense because there’s not a lot of offensive anticipation in our game,” Sharks coach David Quinn said. “Right now we’re a little bit flat-footed, waiting for plays to be made before we react to them instead of anticipating.”
Kiefer Sherwood and Luke Evangelista each had a goal and an assist and Samuel Fagemo also scored for the Predators. Former Shark Gustav Nyquist had two assists.
Mackenzie Blackwood made 28 saves for the Sharks, who got off to a 0-5-0 start last season — the worst in the franchise’s history — before winning their sixth game. San Jose’s road trip continues Tuesday in Florida against the Panthers.
Novak and Sherwood scored goals 12 seconds apart early in the second to break the game open. Already, in four of five games, the Sharks have allowed multiple goals less than two minutes apart.
“I thought there were some really good things going on for a while and when we were bad, we were bad,” Quinn said. “It’s disappointing because I thought there were a lot of good things in the first period and all of a sudden, we give up a goal on the power play, lose a stick, don’t block a shot.
“And again, we gave up two right away and dug ourselves a hole. Just very inconsistent.”
Hertl snapped Saros’ shutout bid at 10:33 of the third from in close, and Evangelista scored his first of the season for Nashville at 13:26 of the third.
After the game, Hertl showed his displeasure after some Sharks players didn’t go after a Predators player after a collision with Blackwood in the crease.
Predators defenseman Roman Josi skated through the crease and made contact with Blackwood’s head as he put a shot on net. With the loose puck laying flat right beside a downed Blackwood, Nashville forward Filip Forsberg leaned to get a stick on it and fell on top of the Sharks goalie.
“I just don’t like the last 10 minutes because we just left (Blackwood) alone,” Hertl said. “We have to be more together, step it up. If it’s 5-1, you have to cross-check somebody and show they can’t do anything. I’m more mad (about that) because we just left our goalie alone and we have to show them that can’t do that to us.
“It just can’t happen, especially in the last five minutes. Nobody cares if anybody takes an extra two minutes,” Hertl continued. “I think the locker room has been great. (But) our goalies, they’ve stood on their heads for us. They played really well and we have to show them that we’re there for them.”
Hertl wants to see the Sharks be harder in front of their own net.
“We have to just be ready and show other teams that they can’t do anything with anyone,” Hertl said. “Even after that, (Nashville) had so many rebounds and we just let them play and we just left Blackie alone.
“I don’t like it at all. For sure I was mad about that.”
Quinn added: “You’ve got to protect your goalie. I don’t care if you’re friends or not, you got to protect your goalie.”
VLASIC BENCHED
Marc-Edouard Vlasic only had nine shifts for the game and 6:09 in total ice time. He was benched for the final nine minutes of the second period and the entire third period.
“He’s got to be better,” Quinn said. “He’s going to be harder, he’s got to be more thorough. Just got to be better.”
The Sharks dressed seven defensemen and 11 forwards, with both Thomas Bordeleau and Givani Smith being healthy scratches.
Sharks defenseman Ty Emberson made his NHL debut and played 13:12 with two shots on net and three giveaways.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
