SAN JOSE -– When Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored on a tape-to-tape cross-ice feed from Nikolay Goldobin on Thursday night, it marked the first goal by a Sharks defenseman other than Brent Burns.
It was the 13th game of the regular season.
For a team whose blueliners are encouraged and expected to get involved and be aggressive in generating chances in the offensive zone, the Sharks could use a little more production on the scoresheet from that group, according to coach Pete DeBoer.
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"I think if we're going to be a good 5-on-5 team we need our defense to be a big part of that. Any of the good 5-on-5 teams have that,” DeBoer said after the 5-2 win over Florida. “On [Vlasic’s goal] we had both defensemen (including Justin Braun) up in the rush. I don't know if we'll promote that too often, but it was a great play and we need more of that."
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Paul Martin said: “It’s definitely important, especially in today’s game, defensemen being able to get up the ice and create opportunities. Five-on-five, you need to make an effort basically to make sure that you’re getting up the ice or making plays to help the forwards out.”
Burns leads the Sharks’ defense with five goals and five assists for 10 points. After that, Vlasic has five points (1g, 4a), Braun three assists, Martin two assists, and Matt Tennyson and Brenden Dillon have one helper apiece.
San Jose Sharks
Oddly, among the Sharks’ defensemen that have played more than two games, Burns is the only one with a minus rating (-2). Vlasic leads the defense with a +6 rating, while Braun and Martin are each a +5.
Is there a way for the defensemen other than Burns to generate more offense without sacrificing in their own end?
“You’ve got to pick your spots,” Vlasic said. “I joined the rush [Thursday] on a clear cut two-on-one, knowing I had people back. That’s joining the rush without taking risks. When it’s a three-on-one, or four-on-two, you join the rush when we have full control. When we don’t have full control, it’s risky.”
The forwards have to play their part, too.
DeBoer said: “I think early in the year we were working on finding that line where [the defensemen can jump up] and our forwards are responsible enough that we were managing the puck and covering for them. We stumbled a few times with that and it cost us some goals at critical times, but I think we’re starting to find a better balance there.”
When it comes to DeBoer’s system as compared with former coach Todd McLellan’s, that defensive aggressiveness that DeBoer prefers is a difference. The Sharks are still in an adjustment period, but it’s trending the right way, according to Vlasic.
“Most of the games its there –- some of the games against Columbus (a 5-2 loss on Tuesday) or other teams we lay off our system a little bit -– but when we do play our system and do play the new style and play together, we’re a tough team to beat.”
Martin said: “I think we’re getting better. … Sometimes you can play that way and not always get production, and then we got away from it for a little bit and were sitting back. As of late we’re starting to get up the ice a little more, and I think if the forwards are able to get that puck in and have possession, we’re able to activate more and find ways around the rink to make it better.”