Sharks Takeaways: What We Learned in Disappointing 5-1 Loss Vs. Jets

SAN JOSE -- With the Jets in town, the Sharks had the opportunity to avenge their previous loss to Winnipeg and improve on the disappointing third period they played against the Kings on Monday.

Unfortunately, they couldn't pull off either. San Jose waffled in its second meeting of the season with the Jets, falling 5-1 at SAP Center on Wednesday night. 

Here are three takeaways from the game:

Is fatigue setting in? 

Wednesday's game marked the first time the Sharks lost since moving to a lineup with eleven forwards and seven defensemen. That tired feeling didn't seem to set in for San Jose until the third period of Monday's game in LA, but was there throughout Wednesday's game against Winnipeg. Yes, the Jets hadn't played since Saturday and had better legs, but the Sharks still looked more sluggish than usual. 

Not-so-special teams 

Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer told reporters Wednesday morning that he wasn't too concerned about the lack of power-play scoring. He might have changed his mind during the loss to the Jets, however, as San Jose went 0-for-5 with the man advantage and didn't spend enough time in the offensive zone.

The Sharks' top-rated penalty kill wasn't perfect either, surrendering a power-play goal to Winnipeg's Patrik Laine in the first frame. While it was only a single tally, it makes one wonder if San Jose's bad habit of taking too many penalties is catching up to the team. 

Dell drops the ball 

Despite making a couple of really nice saves throughout the evening, Wednesday's start wasn't Aaron Dell's finest. Granted, San Jose's defense gave Winnipeg more room to work than they should have, but both Laine's first-period and David Gustafsson's second-period marker were goals that Dell probably would like to have back. 

It didn't help matters that, on the other side of the ice, Connor Hellebuyck was in fine form. For the second time this season, the Jets' netminder had all the answers against the Sharks' offensive attack and kept some of their best chances from finding the back of the net.

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