By: Justin Gincauskas

The San Jose Sharks are the worst team in the NHL this season. With their 2-1 loss Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets, the Sharks have gone on a 10-game losing streak for the second time in 2023-24. They currently sit last in the NHL standings with 21 points.

The first time the Sharks went on a 10-game losing streak was at the beginning of the season. San Jose lost its first 11 games to kick off the 2023-24 season, which included a 10-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, and a 10-2 defeat a couple of days later at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Sharks’ first game of the season was on Oct. 12, and they did not win their first game until Nov. 7, when they defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 to end the streak.

San Jose’s most recent 10-game losing streak began on Dec. 15 with a loss to the Arizona Coyotes. Since then, the team has scored at least three goals in a game just twice. Entering Thursday’s game against the Jets, the Sharks were hoping to avoid another 10-game losing streak by winning against the team they last defeated before the streak began. San Jose’s last win came against Winnipeg on Dec. 12.

After both teams were held scoreless after the first period, the Sharks got on the board first in the second with a goal from Alexander Barabanov. The Jets tied the game less than a minute and a half later as Morgan Barron scored his eighth of the season. In the third period, the Jets capitalized on an early power play to take a 2-1 lead. Connor Hellebuyck saved 27 of 28 shots as the Jets held on for the victory. After losing 2-1 to San Jose on Dec. 12, the Jets got their revenge Thursday by handing the Sharks their 10th straight loss.

The Sharks will look to end the losing streak when they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday at home. San Jose is eight losses away from tying the record for the longest losing streak in NHL history, which is currently 18 games held by the 2003-04 Penguins and 2020-21 Sabres.

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