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Sharks Headed to Historically Bad Season in 1-Goal Games

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Credit: AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

LOS ANGELES — The San Jose Sharks just can’t win one-goal games.

They lost another last night to the Los Angeles Kings 4-3. Their record in one-goal games is now 5-6-8, “good” for an NHL-worst .263 One-Goal Game Winning %.

“We’re there every game. Can’t get wins. It’s frustrating for everyone,” San Jose Sharks alternate captain Nick Bonino said. “Tonight was just a lot of good things and one or two bad things and we lost.”

Sharks Locker Room: Quinn Speaks Up for Karlsson, Bonino on Team’s Frustration

At this rate, this would be only the second time in franchise history that the Sharks finish last in One-Goal Game Winning %.

In 1992-93, their second season in existence, San Jose went 5-21 – there were ties back then – for a league-worst .192 One-Goal Game Winning %.

Those “one or two bad things” that Bonino is referring to, a staple of the San Jose Sharks season, befell the Sharks after they tied the game at two apiece midway through the third period.

Outskill, outsmart, and outwork your opponent are the three things that you can do to win hockey games, and the Sharks did none of that on the Gabriel Vilardi and Drew Doughty goals, scored within 53 seconds of each other, that gave LA a 4-2 lead and put another dagger into San Jose’s starcrossed season.

That lack of grace under fire – Matt Benning had time and space to clear the puck 25 seconds before the Vilardi goal, two Sharks Tomas Hertl and Erik Karlsson pinched on one King Alex Iafallo off an offensive zone faceoff loss, Karlsson struggled to keep up with the trailer and eventual game-winner Doughty, they couldn’t get a clutch stop from James Reimer – has plagued even the best Sharks performers all season.

It just seems like a season like no other for the Sharks.

“Honestly, I don’t think so,” Hertl said two weeks ago when asked if he had ever experienced a San Jose Sharks campaign like this one. “It’s nothing [about] what [they] do, it’s always us. A little mistake, and we just keep shooting our foot.”

Sharks Locker Room: Heartbroken Hertl, Karlsson on Difference Between San Jose & Good Teams

It’s in the numbers! Here San Jose’s One-Goal Game Winning % history:

Year1-Goal Game Win %NHL Rank
2022-230.26332
2021-220.45717
2020-210.45818
2019-200.4823
2018-190.5637
2017-180.56311
2016-170.47519
2015-160.54812
2014-150.41912
2013-140.5914
2012-130.51914
2011-120.48918
2010-110.53813
2009-100.54111
2008-090.5913
2007-080.6053
2006-070.516
2005-060.48819
2003-040.5947
2002-030.37526 (of 30)
2001-020.52410
2000-010.5679
1999-000.48414
1998-990.47616
1997-980.54512
1996-970.510
1995-960.29425 (of 26)
1994-950.5718
1993-940.6334
1992-930.19224 (of 24)
1991-920.3221 (of 22)
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