The San Jose Sharks have a chance to make NHL history Tuesday night when they host the Philadelphia Flyers.
Unfortunately for Sharks fans, it's not a good kind of history.
San Jose has lost 11 straight games (0-10-1) to begin the season, the fourth team in NHL history to accomplish that feat. The New York Rangers lost 11 straight in 1943-44 to establish the record for most losses to begin a season, and the Arizona Coyotes matched it in both 2017 and 2021.
Worse yet, the game with the Flyers begins a brutal stretch of three games in four nights that includes a Thursday contest with Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, followed by a Friday night date against the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights in Las Vegas.
Not exactly the kind of schedule that a team that has allowed 10 goals in back-to-back games - a 10-1 loss to Vancouver Thursday followed by a 10-2 loss to Pittsburgh Saturday - needs if it hopes to turn things around quickly.
San Jose became the first team since the Boston Bruins in December 1965 to allow 10 or more goals in consecutive games. The Bruins were whacked by Detroit (10-2) and Chicago (10-1). The Sharks have been outscored an eye-popping 55-12 this season.
After the latest loss to the Penguins, Sharks head coach David Quinn faced questions about his job security.
"I guess it's an obvious question, but if you've been around long, I mean, I don't think about that for two seconds," Quinn said. "I've got a job to do."
After taking Sunday off, the Sharks practiced Monday after holding a team meeting with general manager Mike Grier.
"The fans deserve better," Grier told reporters afterward. "We'll be evaluating everything and looking at everything. This can't go on much longer. The fans deserve more."
"We've got to look in the mirror," center Mikael Granlund said. "This is the truth, this is where we are right now. So let's get back to it and try to be better."
Philadelphia comes in off a 5-0 home loss to the Los Angeles Kings and has lost six of its past eight games.
Tuesday's contest starts a four-game road trip for the Flyers, including a Southern California back-to-back at Anaheim and Los Angeles on Friday and Saturday before traveling cross-country to face the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., next Wednesday.
"I like the group," Flyers coach John Tortorella said when asked about bouncing back from the shutout loss to the Kings. "I don't think the LA game is a 5-0 game, but I don't think we played that well.
"I thought we played in spurts but I do think we'll answer in the proper way. I do think it's a good group and we're going to have some ups and downs this year in the situation we're in with our team."
Despite San Jose's record-slow start, Tortorella said his team won't overlook the Sharks.
"I know it's been a struggle for San Jose," Tortorella said. "It's the National Hockey League. You need to be ready to play each and every night.
"We have no business thinking about anything other than trying to play better than we did against L.A."
- Field Level Media
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