Demers, Sharks shake off first loss, key in on Devils

NEW YORK -- There's no better tonic for a loss than to get right back on the ice in an attempt to make amends.

At least that's how San Jose Sharks defenseman Jason Demers views the situation when asked about his team's demeanor 24 hours after losing its first game of the season, 4-3 to the New York Islanders in a shootout Thursday.

The Sharks (3-0-1) will play the New Jersey Devils (3-1-0) at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Saturday.

There's no better tonic for a loss than to get right back on the ice in an attempt to make amends, according to San Jose Sharks defenseman Jason Demers. Demers visited the The NHL Powered by Reebok Store in NYC.  (Photo: Thomas Nycz/NHLI)

"We did some good things and maybe they out-skated us a little bit in certain areas," Demers told NHL.com during an off-day visit to The NHL Powered by Reebok Store. "You know as a team the odds of going 82-0 are pretty tough, so eventually you might drop a few, but it's how you bounce back.

"We got a tough point against the Islanders and now going into New Jersey it's a big game for us to bounce back and regain that momentum."

The Devils will be looking to do the same thing after losing their first game of the season, 6-2 to the Washington Capitals on Thursday.

Demers said he is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with Devils left wing Ryane Clowe.

They were teammates for three-plus seasons in San Jose prior to Clowe's trade to the New York Rangers in April 2013. Clowe signed a five-year contract with the Devils three months later.

"I played against him last year and he got a few hits on me," Demers said, grinning. "I see him every summer at his charity golf tournament and he's a good friend. I loved playing with him when he was with the Sharks because he was one of the guys who ushered me into the League and helped me a lot along the way."

Demers, a seventh-round pick (No. 186) in the 2008 NHL Draft, has 16 goals, 97 points and a plus-26 rating in 284 NHL games, all with the Sharks.

"It's always fun to play against [Clowe], get a few laughs and try to make that big caveman smile," Demers said.

Paired with Matt Irwin much of the season, Demers, 26, has two assists in four games this season. He said there really hasn't been a change in attitude around the team despite the move to having four alternate captains this season in Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Patrick Marleau and Marc-Edouard Vlasic.

"We have a leadership group of 25 guys who each have their own voice," Demers said. "When you have that many guys providing their own ideas, it brings you together and on the same page. But we lean on Joe and Pat because they've been in the League for a long time. They're elite players in the League.

"I think guys have handled the situation great. It's nice to see how smoothly things have run."

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