SAN JOSE — Considering Alex Nedeljkovic has won his last five starts – posting a sparkling .931 save percentage in the process – an argument can be made that the San Jose Sharks goalie is playing as well right now as he has all season.
Part of it, from Nedeljkovic’s standpoint, has been his mental approach.
“Just trying to have the right attitude, the right mindset,” Nedeljkovic said last Sunday before the Sharks left for their five-game road trip. “I feel like I’ve had it at times throughout the year. At times it’s maybe … trying to do too much. So, I think I’m in a good spot right now.
“I’ve always known what’s working, and I found it and hit it.”
Nedeljkovic could be back in net Saturday afternoon when the Sharks (27-21-4) play the Calgary Flames (21-26-6), hoping to bounce back from a stinging 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.
Starting goalie Yaroslav Askarov stopped 20 shots through the first two periods as the Sharks built a 3-0 lead. But the Oilers, led by Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard, turned up the pressure.
Following Draisaitl’s goal at the 1:34 mark of the third, the Sharks managed just two shots on net, and none in the final eight minutes. McDavid and Bouchard both scored in the final 3:05 of regulation time, with an extra attacker on the ice, before Zach Hyman scored in overtime to send the Sharks to one of their most bitter losses of the season.
On the winning goal, Timothy Liljegren turned the puck over to the Oilers. Later, Hyman shoved Liljegren into the crease, took a pass from McDavid in the Sharks’ zone and one-timed a shot past goalie Askarov for his 22nd goal of the season.
“I think our 6-on-5 was not good enough and that’s something that we’ll look at,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “There were moments in the third where we needed to continue to make plays and push forward and we didn’t do enough of that.”
Up until Thursday, though, the Sharks had been near-perfect in that area, going 19-0-1 this season when they led after two periods.
Nedeljkovic said he’s been the beneficiary of that. After winning just three of his first 10 starts this season, sometimes due to situations out of his control, as he enters Saturday with a 10-8-2 record and an .899 save percentage.
“He’s played really well,” Warsofsky said last Sunday. “He’s locked in, making some big save, timely saves, I think that would be the biggest thing.”
Despite Thursday’s result, the Sharks still enter Saturday tied with the Utah Mammoth for the best points percentage (.700) of any Western Conference team since the Christmas break. With 10 wins in their last 15 games, the Sharks are now just outside of a playoff spot and also one point back of the Seattle Kraken for third place in the Pacific Division.
“(Guys have been) playing really well in front of me too, so that obviously helps a lot,” Nedeljkovic said. “It can get you into a rhythm a little bit sooner and be a little bit better. I think we’re clicking all around.”
IORIO WAIVED, SHERWOOD CLOSE?
The Sharks on Friday placed defenseman Vincent Iorio on waivers, clearing a roster spot for one or more of their players to be potentially activated off injured reserve.
The Sharks were carrying 22 players, one short of the maximum, on their active roster and had three others – forwards Kiefer Sherwood and Philipp Kurashev and defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin – on IR.
Warsofsky said last week that Mukhamadullin was getting closer to a return, and that he was optimistic that Kurashev and Sherwood could be activated before the end of the team’s road trip. All three players were dealing with upper body injuries.
Related Articles
Sharks place defenseman on waivers, create another valuable roster opening Sharks blow big third period lead, suffer stinging loss to Edmonton Oilers Does acquiring Artemi Panarin, and signing him to a big contract, make sense for the Sharks? How Macklin Celebrini’s early career has (eerily) mirrored one of NHL’s best Sharks blast Canucks, set record as Celebrini dominates hometown teamSherwood, who was acquired Jan. 19 from the Vancouver Canucks, was among the Sharks players who took part in an optional practice Friday in Calgary. The Sharks will see how Sherwood feels Saturday morning before deciding whether to activate him off IR.
The 23-year-old Iorio, who was scratched for a sixth straight game Thursday, was claimed by the Sharks on Oct. 16 after he had been put on waivers by the Washington Capitals a day earlier. He had three assists in 21 games with the Sharks and averaged 16:30 in ice time, mainly as a third pair defenseman.
Teams have until Saturday morning to claim the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Iorio. If he goes unclaimed, he’ll be assigned to the Barracuda of the AHL.
After Saturday, the Sharks finish their five-game road trip with stops in Chicago on Monday and Colorado on Wednesday before the start of the Olympic break.
Hence then, the article about sharks nedeljkovic explains what s worked for him during winning streak was published today ( ) and is available on mercury news ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Sharks’ Nedeljkovic explains what’s worked for him during winning streak )
Also on site :
- Ground stop issued at O'Hare amid snowfall and icy conditions
- What Is Situs Inversus? Inside Catherine O'Hara's Rare Genetic Condition
- Catherine O'Hara Revealed Struggle With Social Anxiety Years Before Her Death