Sharks set NHL record with historic losing streak to start season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Sharks didn’t make the NHL record books on Saturday night – but not in the way anyone hoped.
San José loses 7-3 at the Las Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Center made the Sharks the first team in NHL history to lose nine straight games to start back-to-back seasons.
After a promising opening night that saw San Jose nearly usher in a new era on a high note, it was all downhill for the Sharks as they lost their ninth straight game, their most recent defeat coming at the hands of one of the franchise’s biggest rivals.
This comes a season after San Jose began the 2023-24 NHL season with 11 straight losses, tying the league record for most losses to start a campaign.
It’s been a particularly difficult start for first-year coach Ryan Warsofsky, who is two losses away from tying the NHL record for consecutive losses to begin a coaching career.
“Good” news for Warsofsky: He’s still a few games away from the worst start to his NHL coaching career.
André Tourigny lost his first 11 games (0-10-1) with the Arizona Coyotes in 2021-22
-Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 27, 2024
After Saturday’s loss, Warsofsky didn’t mince his words when asked about the Sharks’ historic losing streak.
“It’s embarrassing. Really embarrassing,” Warsofsky said.
Injuries have certainly played their part, as #1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini hasn’t played a single game since his stellar NHL debut while treat lower body disease.
Although the team’s success has yet to arrive this season, Mikael Granlund continued his strong road trip with another goal in Saturday’s loss.
It was always going to be a bumpy ride for the Sharks as they integrated a core of young talent with a handful of newly acquired veterans, but it would have been difficult to predict a historically poor start like this. Especially after San Jose led 4-1 in the third period of its opening night loss to the St. Louis Blues.
The Sharks will look to earn their first win of the season in their regular season opener against the Utah Hockey Club at 6 p.m. PT on Monday night.
