Sharks Struggle to Find Energy in Back-to-Back Losses

San Jose's playoff hopes take a hit as they fail to match the intensity of their opponents

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:37am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented hockey game, with players and the ice reduced to angular, overlapping shapes in muted blues, greens, and grays, conveying the intensity and frustration of the Sharks' recent losses.The Sharks' struggles to compete in back-to-back games have fractured their playoff hopes, exposing issues with conditioning and mental toughness.NYC Today

The San Jose Sharks have found themselves in a tough spot after back-to-back losses to the Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers, putting their playoff hopes in jeopardy. Head coach Ryan Warsofsky acknowledged that the team has struggled to handle the rigors of the schedule, particularly in the second game of back-to-back sets, and needs to learn how to simplify their game and compete harder when they don't have their 'A' game.

Why it matters

The Sharks' recent struggles have put them four points out of the final wild card spot in the Western Conference with just four games left. They will need to find a way to win these final games and get some help from other teams to make the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

The details

In the two losses, the Sharks came out flat and were unable to match the intensity of their opponents. Warsofsky said the team has 'really complicated the game' and 'beat themselves' with poor execution, rather than being outplayed by the other teams. He emphasized the need for the Sharks to simplify their game and compete harder, even when they don't have a lot of energy.

  • The Sharks lost 6-1 to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, April 10, 2026.
  • The Sharks lost 5-2 to the Edmonton Oilers the night before, on Wednesday, April 9, 2026.

The players

Ryan Warsofsky

The head coach of the San Jose Sharks, who acknowledged the team's struggles and the need to learn how to handle the rigors of the schedule.

Dmitry Orlov

A 2018 Stanley Cup winner who advised the Sharks to simplify their game and 'play short shifts, play simple' when they don't have a lot of energy.

Kiefer Sherwood

A Sharks player who expressed frustration with the team's lack of competitiveness, saying 'It's not good enough this time of the year. We can't be outwilled or outworked, it's unacceptable.'

Tyler Toffoli

A Sharks player who acknowledged the team has put themselves in a difficult position, saying 'You can look at it, good or bad, and on Saturday, we have to be ready to go.'

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What they’re saying

“Everybody has these games this season, because the way the schedule is, no excuses. You have to still show up. You don't feel great, but play short shifts, play simple and then during the game, you're still gonna get to your game. Get a feel.”

— Dmitry Orlov, 2018 Stanley Cup winner

“How hard it is to play right now, this time of year. How detailed you have to be, how competitive you have to be. And we've probably fully haven't grasped that yet. So we're learning that right now, and we're getting punched in the face with it right now, in this moment, probably last night as well.”

— Ryan Warsofsky, Head Coach

“It's not good enough this time of the year. We can't be outwilled or outworked, it's unacceptable. It doesn't matter if it's a back-to-back. You saw it last night. The other team wanted it more and same thing tonight. We have to learn from it, and we got to look...”

— Kiefer Sherwood, Sharks Player

“There's nothing you can do now. You just got to go out and play. It is what it is. We put ourselves in this position. You can look at it, good or bad, and on Saturday, we have to be ready to go.”

— Tyler Toffoli, Sharks Player

What’s next

The Sharks will need to win their final four games and get help from other teams to make the playoffs. Their next game is on Saturday, April 12, 2026.

The takeaway

The Sharks' inability to match their opponents' intensity in back-to-back games has put their playoff hopes in jeopardy. The team needs to learn how to simplify their game and compete harder when they don't have their 'A' game, in order to have a chance at making the postseason.