The Sharks clean out lockers on Tuesday, disperse hither and yon for the summer and - at some point - will reflect on the positives that came from the 2017-18 season.
They'll recall this was a team that found a way into the postseason for the 13th time in 14 seasons despite the offseason departure of Patrick Marleau and a season-ending injury that sidelined Joe Thornton in late January.
Expectations were not lowered even though a number of teal-behind-the-ear skaters including Timo Meier, Kevin Labanc, Marcus Sorensen and Joakim Ryan were folded into the San Jose lineup.
And young veterans such as Tomas Hertl, Chris Tierney, Joonas Donskoi, Melker Karlsson, Barclay Goodrow and Dylan DeMelo were challenged before training camp to take another step in their personal development, and they all delivered by making bigger contributors to the cause.
Inside the Cage: Sudden Exit
What San Jose is left with for now, however, is the stinging and sudden exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights, who earned every bit of a six-game second-round victory over 11 nights.
"Credit Vegas - 109 points in the regular season, sweep L.A. - we knew their game was for real," Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer said. "The bottom line for me is we were just chasing every game in the series other than the 4-0 win at home.
"We had some good starts, some quality chances early in those games," he added. "(Marc-Andre) Fleury was great early in those games, and allowed them to get their feet under them. We were chasing five of the six games."
The expansion franchise's amazing and improbably run to the Western Conference finals could not be derailed. Both the Sharks and Golden Knights were coming off first-round sweeps, and they were the two most consistent teams in the Pacific Division through 82 games. A playoff match-up to determine which team that finished within nine points of each other appeared destined and deserved.
In the end, though, Vegas was better in almost every way.
Because Fleury saved his best for first - periods, that is - the Golden Knights ended up leading (40 percent) or tied (42 percent) of the series. That left the Sharks holding a lead for 70:24 of the 393:30 played - or just 18 percent of the series.
"We would have liked to get the first one," Sharks center Logan Couture said. "It felt like the whole series they were up 1-0 or 2-0 every game. We just couldn't get the lead and play with the lead."
"You're trying to hit a home run when a single is what you need at times," Sharks captain Joe Pavelski added. "All the goals in this series came when guys were making little plays and winning battles. They're a team that comes back hard and doesn't give you a lot on the rush."
Unlike during a four-game sweep of the Ducks when San Jose outscored Anaheim 16-4 and 15 of the 18 skaters found their way onto the score sheet, the Sharks did not get enough production against a Vegas team that compiled a 22-14 edge in goals in the six games.
Evander Kane, Joonas Donskoi and Pavelski combined for three goals, five points and 34 shots on goal. Kane missed Game 2 due to a suspension and Donskoi was out for Game 3 with a lower-body injury.
"We would have liked to be more productive to be sure," Pavelski said. "We had some looks, we had some chances. I wish I had an answer."
Chris Tierney's third line - along with wingers Meier and Labanc - combined for two goals, six points and 37 shots on goal. The fourth line of Eric Fehr, Sorensen and Karlsson chipped in a goal, two points and 21 shots in addition to providing energy when ever called upon.
Finally, Couture's line with Mikkel Boedker and Hertl provided the most offense with six goals, 16 points and 48 shots on goal. While they were the most productive trio, they also often had their hands full trying to contain Vegas' top line. But more on them later.
"We didn't produce the way we wanted to, especially in the last couple of games," said Kane, who was on the winning side in six of seven playoff games he scored a goal. "We had the chances. Unfortunately we didn't get the bounces go our way. They played hard, you've got to give them credit. We just weren't good enough."
"Throughout the series we didn't get enough from all 20 who dressed, and that was the issue," Couture added. "To go far in the playoffs you need everyone, every night and I don't think we had it this series… It's extra disappointing when you don't play the way you're capable of so as a team, individually, that's something that's very difficult to take." The 33-year-old Fleury was too big of an obstacle to overcome. He stopped 200 of 214 shots in the series (.935 save percentage) and posted a 2.13 goals-against average. This after being lights out in Round 1 (4-0, 0.65 GAA and .977 save percentage). He posted zeroes in the opener and closer, and has now tossed four of his 14 career shutouts among his eight wins this postseason.
"Sometimes you've got to give credit to the other guy," Sharks defenseman Brent Burns said. "The enemy's got a vote and the enemy this series was Fleury. He played unbelievable."
"He made some big saves. He played great," Couture echoed. "It's a two-way street, though. You get opportunities, you've got to score. We had a lot of opportunities, but we didn't score."
San Jose netminder Martin Jones couldn't match his first round when he went 4-0 with a 1.00 GAA and .970 save percentage against Anaheim. Those numbers dipped to 2-4 with a 3.13 GAA and .895 save percentage for the 28-year-old Vancouver native, who was pulled from two starts.
"Part of it was that first game," Pavelski said of the 7-0 loss in Game 1. "He had a couple great games for us. I wouldn't look at those numbers and put anything on him."
The aforementioned Vegas top line did a lot of the damage against Jones. Built with center William Karlsson with wingers Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith, the trio was nearly unstoppable. They combined to score eight goals, 25 points and put 61 shots on goal. The rest of Vegas skaters combined managed 141 shots. Fittingly, Marchessault scored the series clincher in Game 6 with assists going to Smith and Karlsson.
"They make a lot of plays," Tierney said. "They're opportunistic when they get chances and they can score. They scored a lot, and their depth guys scored too."
"The games that got away from us we turned too many pucks over and we didn't spend enough time in the offensive zone," Pavelski added. "We fed their transition, and they're a dangerous team when you give them that."
The loss marked the fifth time the Sharks have been ousted in the second round since 2006. And because Vegas carries the expansion label doesn't lessen the Golden Knights' accomplishment. In all, San Jose and Vegas met a combined 10 times between the regular season and the playoffs and the Sharks managed only one regulation victory - 4-0 in Game 4 to even the series, 2-2.
"They're a great team," Burns said. "To be at this point of the year there are only great teams left. We count ourselves among them. We just didn't get it done. I don't care if it's a first-year team or a 40th-year team. They're a good team."
And the offseason used for rest, rehab, roster decisions and contemplation begins. "No handshake is easy when you're on the losing side, I don't care where you are," Pavelski said. "A lot of guys stepped up and played some hard, productive minutes and it was encouraging to see. We always felt like we had a chance to move on to another round. We just came up a little short here."
"I'm looking forward because we have a lot of young guys," Hertl added. "They showed they can play some big hockey. We have some work to do for next year… Somebody has to lose. And it was us this time. We have to learn and be ready for next season."
