The Sharks returned home Saturday after just one day off following their second five-game road trip of the early season.
While fatigue wasn’t an excuse, San Jose didn’t manage a goal in a 4-0 loss to Washington at SAP Center. Alexander Ovechkin and Conor Sheary scored two goals apiece and Capitals goalie Ilya Samsonov stopped 22 shots for his sixth career shutout.
The hosts also lost the services of rookie forward Jonathan Dahlen, who appeared to sustain a left shoulder injury in the first period. Tied for the team lead in goals with seven, Dahlen skated two shifts in the second and did not return.
The Sharks don’t want to get in the habit of losing at home. In judging how Pacific Division rivals are taking advantage of home cooking, San Jose has little choice but to join them if it wants to stick with the pack.
“You look at some of these teams, and you look at their schedules — no disrespect — but teams are hammering home schedules and their homes games right now,” Sharks coach Bob Boughner said.
With an 8-8-1 record, the Sharks have held their own considering 10 of the first 16 games were waged on their opponent’s ice. Even with the run of modest success, San Jose sits sixth in the Pacific and two spots out of playoff position.
“It’s an important time for us to stay in it,” Boughner said. “And we’ve done a good job considering what we’ve been through with the COVID.”
San Jose’s current four-game homestand ends Friday, after which the Sharks head out again for five more road games in eight nights.
“I don’t want to bring it up too much to the team, but internally talking with the staff and management, we have a chance when we get back in December where we play almost three weeks at home before the Christmas break,” Boughner said.
San Jose is set to play seven straight at home from Dec. 7-23. Five games are against division foes, and all seven are conference match-ups. After a quick trek to Anaheim on Dec. 27, the Sharks cap the month with two more as hosts to finish a stretch of playing nine of 10 at home.
“That’s going to be important to put points in the bank, and win our fair share of home games,” Boughner said, “(and) take advantage of what other teams have had in terms of long home stretches.”
All five Pacific teams ahead of San Jose have ripped off impressive early-season streaks.
Edmonton won five straight to start, lost once then won four more in a row. The Oilers, 8-1 at home, played five division opponents and faced their 12th conference foe Saturday night.
Alberta neighbor Calgary won six straight (five were on the road) from Oct. 21-30. San Jose handed the Flames their only regulation home loss in six games on Nov. 9.
“I guess I’d say a little surprised in seeing the runs that some of these teams have been on,” Boughner said. “That’s pretty impressive.”
Anaheim rallied from a 2-4-3 start to win eight in a row Oct. 31-Nov. 16 and briefly shot to the top of the division and conference standings. Six of the eight wins were at home.
Los Angeles won seven straight Oct. 30-Nov. 11, with four coming on home ice. And division favorite Vegas has gone 10-3 since an injury-plagued 1-4 start. The Golden Knights played their division-high 11th home game Saturday night.
“Even the teams that aren’t necessarily killing it right now you know they’re good teams,” Boughner said. “They’re going to catch their game at some point. It’s going to be a tough division all year.”
Ross McKeon covers the Sharks for The San Francisco Chronicle. Twitter: @rossmckeon.
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Sharks fall to Capitals, lose Dahlen to injury - San Francisco Chronicle
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