Flyers vs. Sharks Tuesday NHL odds: San Jose looking to avoid record 12-game losing streak to open season
San Jose has lost its first 11 games this season as it hosts Philadelphia on Tuesday.
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The San Jose Sharks have been historically bad early this NHL season. They have allowed 10 goals in back-to-back games and have tied a league record with 11 straight losses to open a season – 10 of those by multiple goals. They look to avoid infamy Tuesday night when they host a Philadelphia Flyers squad that is struggling as well but is still a -192 favorite on the SportsLine consensus.
San Jose's lone one-goal loss was a 2-1 setback in a shootout against Colorado in the second game of the season. In the past two games, the Sharks have been outscored by 20-3, both at home: a 10-1 loss on Thursday vs. Vancouver and a 10-2 defeat on Saturday against Pittsburgh. The last time a team allowed 10 or more goals in consecutive games was the Boston Bruins in 1965.
"We've got to look in the mirror," Sharks center Mikael Granlund said after Saturday's loss. "This is the truth, this is where we are right now. So let's get back to it and try to be better."
San Jose has scored only 12 goals and its minus-42 goal differential is the worst ever for an NHL team through 11 games. The Sharks are on pace to shatter the league record for worst single-season goal differential, which is held by the expansion Washington Capitals, who won eight games in 1974-75 (minus-265). Through their first 10 games, the Sharks had the fewest even-strength goals (six) in NHL history. They also currently hold the league's lowest points percentage (.045) of all-time.
Sharks general manager Mike Grier said changes – to the roster and potentially to the coaching staff — will be in the offing if improvement does not come soon.
"I just felt they needed to hear from me and what I'm seeing and what I expect from them," Grier told reporters Monday. "To let them know what's happening was not acceptable from my end. There are certain things I won't tolerate and some of that stuff has been happening, and I kind of let them know that."
Star Logan Couture has yet to play this season due to injury and recently had a setback. The team's leading scorer is Tomas Hertl with all of seven points. The 0-10-1 start matches the 11-game winless starts by the New York Rangers in 1943 and Arizona Coyotes in 2017 and 2021.
Mackenzie Blackwood allowed six goals on 18 shots Saturday before being replaced by Magnus Chrona, who allowed four goals on 17 shots in his NHL debut. It likely will be Blackwood in net again tonight even though he has a brutal 4.78 GAA and .879 save percentage on the year.
Chrona could soon earn his first NHL start. The 23-year-old was a fabulous player at the University of Denver, leading the Pioneers to the NCAA national championship in his junior season in 2021-22, with the netminder being named to the All-Tournament Team after turning away 27 of 28 shots in the national championship game.
Thing is, there's a legitimate shot the Sharks to win tonight – this writer took the conservative route by playing San Jose on the puck line – as Philadelphia has just two wins in its past eight games. Starting goaltender Carter Hart is out with an injury, and he had gotten off to a solid start. It will likely be third-string goalie Samuel Ersson (1-2-1, 3.90 GAA, .815 SV) in tonight. No. 1 center Sean Couturier (eight points) has missed the past two games and is questionable for Tuesday.
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