Warsofsky: The Sharks need guys to step up after another winless start

LOS ANGELES – The San Jose Sharks made unfavorable history Thursday night after failing to win any of their first eight games in consecutive seasons following a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

San Jose is the first team to hold this dubious distinction since the Boston Bruins in the 1960-61 and 1961-62 seasons. The Sharks are 0-6-2 this season after opening 0-10-1 last season.

First-year coach Ryan Warsofsky said the team couldn't allow such lapses to become acceptable.

“This is the National Hockey League,” Warsofsky said. “This is the best league in the world and if you don't enjoy playing this game then you're in the wrong business and the wrong team and we're going to cut these guys out immediately.”

Poor starts are all too common for San Jose, as they were outscored 12-4 in the first period. Mikael Granlund scored on the power play in the second and third periods to tie the game late, but Warsofsky said the 3-0 deficit in the first period was too big to overcome.

Warsofsky also criticized the lack of power transfer from game to game.

“We need a lot of people to step up,” Warsofsky said. “Be more consistent night after night and we are not able to do that at all. Lots of passengers. And if one guy goes, he doesn’t go the next night, so we have to find some consistency in our game.”