BY AIDAN CARLSEN

Just two weeks ago the Sharks were looking a tad worrisome. They had lost four straight games on a five-game road trip and didn’t seem like the Stanley Cup contenders they were supposed to be this season.

It got to the point where Sharks GM Doug Wilson came and watched the team practice, then held a closed meeting with the players. While it’s uncertain what was said, Wilson seemed to set the team straight as they have now gone 5-1 since and are on a three-game winning streak.

They’ve beaten the Canadiens, Hurricanes, Coyotes, Devils and Stars in that span, with their lone loss coming against Dallas.

Speaking to the media after Thursday night’s 3-2 win over the Stars, Joe Thornton said the improvement stems from their play in the defensive zone.

“We’re just real stingy right now,” Thornton said. “We’re playing good defense, and getting timely goals. We’re taking care of our end first.”

That was on display Thursday as the team went down 1-0 just 3:35 into the second period after Radek Faksa scored on a rebound that careened off the the Sharks’ goal post. Instead of immediately trying to tie the game up, San Jose continued to play their game and waited for their chance to even the score.

They found it later in the period, as winger Timo Meier sniped a wicked wrist shot from just below the blue line with less than four minutes remaining in the second period. He would go on to score another, and Joe Thornton would pot his fifth of the season to give the Sharks a much-needed win.

This win, along with all the others, come when the Pacific Division is really beginning to heat up. The Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights have all vastly improved as the season has gone on, as the Sharks find themselves barely clinging to second in the division. San Jose is tied with Anaheim, but hold the ROW advantage, while Edmonton is only two points behind.

Luckily for the Sharks, a good chunk of their remaining games before the Christmas break come against mediocre teams. They have the Blackhawks, Wild, Jets, Kings, and Coyotes — all except the Jets are struggling this year. These next few games will will give us an idea if San Jose has truly turned a corner or are just treading water.

*Image from San Jose Sharks Instagram*