EDMONTON -- The San Jose Sharks are used to getting the best out of their opponents.
Being the top team in the NHL, it's only natural other clubs would try to rise to the occasion against them.
But it's been especially true down the stretch, as teams battle for playoff spots and are desperate for wins, very much like the Edmonton Oilers were heading into last night's 2-1 Sharks win against them at Rexall Place.
"We've been going into this situation for about two months now," said Sharks veteran Jeremy Roenick. "We've been going against teams that have been gunning for us. We've been the top team in the league for 90% of the season, so teams are going to throw their best at us night-in and night-out.
"Now, coming to playoff time, teams are really pushing hard. It's not going to be easier than it has for the last two months."
The Sharks are in a race of their own, trying to clinch top spot and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
They went into last night's game three points up on the Boston Bruins and four up on the Detroit Red Wings. Despite making it look otherwise, it has not be easy for the Sharks.
"These teams that we're playing are fighting for their lives," Roenick said. "You look at the Oilers, they're no stranger to working at the end of the season. Even when they went to the Stanley Cup final, they rattled off a number of wins just to get to that eighth spot. They know what it's all about, and they know they can still do it, so they're going to scratch and claw, and we have to be ready for that."
Playing teams desperately trying to get into the playoffs has helped the Sharks keep sharp. More impressively, they've been able to do it with nearly half their roster on the disabled list.
Yesterday, defenceman Rob Blake and centre Marcel Goc returned to the lineup, but Ryane Clowe, Kent Huskins, Claude Lemieux, Torrey Mitchell, Mike Grier, Patrick Marleau and Tomas Plihal are still not available.
"It's good for the guys that are up here up from the minors to have that playoff mentality at this time of year," Roenick said. "I think it's been good for our whole club. Even the guys that are hurt, they're getting some rest and they're getting ready for the playoffs, so it's been a good situation for us."
The knock on the Sharks in the past couple of seasons is they fall apart when they face adversity in the post-season, not having faced any in the regular season.
This year, they have seen their share of rough-and-tumble times and are still going through them as the year winds down.
"This string of adversity that we're going through with injuries, I think, will help us in the long run," said Sharks head coach Todd McLellan.
If anything, it's shown the Sharks do have versatility and are able to count on players taking on increased roles.
