A true winner will lay everything down on the line time and time again. In the case of the San Jose Sharks, the line needs to be drawn out for them.

They’ve won the past four games and are 4-0 at home, but the Sharks still need to prove to the league that they are the pride of the Pacific Division.

While the young Sharks squad is feisty and hungry on offense, their defensive game is not working for them.

Veteran defensemen Brad Stuart, Scott Hannan and Kyle McLaren are not yet at the same level they were at the end of the 2003-2004 season.

These guys are great defensemen, but being paired up with younger and a less experienced blue line partner is hindering their performance.

Defense is probably the most important element of the game, especially with the rule changes in the National Hockey League.

Through 13 games, the Sharks seem to have problems clearing the puck, forwards not backchecking and no strong physical presence. When you don’t put the body on a player, they are going to take advantage of you in your zone.

In Wednesday’s game against the Nashville Predators, Paul Kariya managed to score a goal because of a defensive error and no Sharks player putting a check on him.

The Sharks seem to have a pattern of falling behind early in their games and it’s largely due to the fact that they don’t enforce their defensive game early on.

Of the seven Sharks defensemen on the roster, only Tom Preissing has a positive plus/minus rating. Hannan, who is key on the blue line, has a -10 plus/minus rating and only has three points on the season. The Sharks need to see the same Hannan who kept Peter Forsberg at bay in the second round of the 2003-2004 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Sharks have given up 46 goals, only falling behind the Atlanta Thrashers (49) and the St. Louis Blues (51). Even so, 14 of the 21 players on the Sharks rosters have a negative plus/minus rating.

If the Sharks want to survive in the new league, they need to match the numbers of teams such as the Detroit Red Wings. To date, the Red Wings are 12-1 on the season with 55 goals scored and allowing only 24.

It’s early in the season and a lot can happen. Unfortunately, the Sharks lost their two starting goaltenders, Evgeni Nabokov and Vesa Toskala, to injuries. Luckily, Nolan Schaefer has been playing well after being called up from the America Hockey League. Schaefer is 4-0-0 on the season with a 2.47 goals against average and a .895 save percentage.

Schaefer is the reason why the Sharks were able to come back late in the game. He fell two goals against both the Calgary and Nashville Predators last week, but managed to keep his composure while the rest of the team managed to make a comeback in both situations.

The Sharks have a lot going for them. Their speed, talent and high endurance levels put them above other teams in the league. However, they still need to work on some offensive fundamentals, especially in the power play department.

The Sharks rank 25th in the league with 14.8 percent for power plays. The Sharks cashed in on only 14 goals in 94 attempts. They don’t have a legitimate power play quarterback. However, once they are in the zone, they maintain the puck really well.

But how long can you hold the puck for? They need to put some shots up and allow things to happen such as banking in on a rebound.

It’s too early to predict how well the Sharks will play. The last four games are a testament to a young team that is learning as they go.

With head coach Ron Wilson behind the bench once again, the Sharks might actually return to form and live up to their title, the Pride of the Pacific.

NEW RULES

Elimination of Two-Line Passes

Passes from behind the defensive blue line to the attacking blue line will be considered legal. The center red line will be ignored for purposes of the "two-line pass."

Smaller Goalie Equipment

The dimensions of goaltender equipment will be reduced by approximately 11 percent. In addition to a one-inch reduction (to 11") in the width of leg pads, the blocking glove, upper-body protector, pants and jersey also will be reduced in size.

Restricted Goalie Area

Goaltenders may play the puck behind the goal line only in a trapezoid-shaped area defined by lines that begin six feet from either goal post and extend diagonally to points 28 feet apart at the endboards.

Shootout

Following a scoreless five-minute overtime, three players from each team participate in the order the coach selects. Each team takes three shots. The team with the most goals after those six shots is the winner.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

In addition to the minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct/diving that may be assessed by the referee during a game, the league will assess fines to players who dive or embellish a fall or a reaction, or who feign injury in an attempt to draw penalties.

Rink Dimensions

The neutral-zone edges of the blue lines will be positioned 64 feet from the attacking goal line and 75 feet from the end boards in the attacking zone. The addition of four feet in each of the offensive zones should encourage more offensive play, particularly on power plays.

Information courtesy of www.foxsports.com