from Curtis Pashelka of the Mercury News,

The math just doesn’t add up for the Sharks.

Over the last four seasons, the average point total for the team that has finished in the second wild card spot in the Western Conference is 91.5. It’s been as low as 87 in 2016 with Minnesota, and as high as 95 in 2018 with Colorado.

To get to 92 points, the Sharks, at 16-20-2 after Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, will need 58 points in the next 44 games. Roughly 6.5 points for every five games they play.

There’s been next to no evidence this month, and for much of the season, that this Sharks team — as currently constructed — is capable of such a run. They entered Monday, when they began a desperately needed four-day break, nine points out of a playoff spot and tied for 13th place in the Western Conference.

The Sharks’ next game is Friday at home against the Los Angeles Kings, followed by a date with the Philadelphia Flyers. Then comes a five-game road trip with games against Detroit, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Washington and St. Louis.

If it’s going to happen, it has to start now.

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