Preview/Lines #12: Sharks Trying To Avoid History Tonight

The 0-10-1 San Jose Sharks are trying to avoid all kinds of history.

But a pair of records stand out tonight, as the Sharks get set to host the Philadelphia Flyers.

12: The Sharks have lost 11 straight games, a start-of-the-season losing streak that’s matched only by the 1943-44 New York Rangers, and 2017-18 and 2021-22 Arizona Coyotes. So a defeat at the hands of the Flyers would be 12 straight losses to start the year for the Sharks, an NHL record.

-40: The Sharks’ Goal Differential through 11 games is -42. That’s the worst in league history through 11 contests, of 1,688 teams, per Hockey Reference. I’ll write that again: The 2023-24 Sharks are the worst of 1,688 teams through 11 games. That’s since 1917-18, so over a century of NHL history.

Through 12 games, the 1924-25 Boston Bruins have the worst Goal Differential in league history, -40. The 1992-93 Ottawa Senators and 1984-85 Vancouver Canucks share the modern mark, -39.

So for the Sharks to surpass -40, they’ll have to, gasp, win, and win by at least three goals.

“We’ve talked about good practices, and all that, means bleep all,” San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn said this morning. “At the end of the day, we gotta perform tonight. I’ll let you know at 10 o’clock how it all went.”

San Jose Sharks (0-10-1)

Zadina is in the line-up tonight. Blackwood will start, Kahkonen fully available to go in if need be. Line-up otherwise not decided https://t.co/jiwTPjCtf2

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 7, 2023

Philadelphia Flyers (5-6-1)

Flyers at San Jose: Sharks Sinking; How to Watch, Prediction, Stats

Where to Watch

Puck drop between the San Jose Sharks and Philadelphia Flyers is 7:30 PM PT at SAP Center. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.