"Three weeks ago, the Sharks and the Chicago Blackhawks were among the NHL's surging teams. They looked like two franchises perfectly capable of once again meeting deep in the postseason.

But when they play Friday night at HP Pavilion, the Sharks and Blackhawks will be just a couple of scuffling clubs badly in need of a win.

Chicago has slipped into a brutal tailspin. The Blackhawks arrive in town having lost six consecutive games and tumbling from their perch atop the Western Conference standings.

While the Blackhawks' Zamboni has blown an engine, the Sharks merely are leaking oil. They have lost their last two games and continue to be plagued by inconsistent play. Regaining their edge against the Blackhawks would be a nice springboard for the upcoming nine-game road trip.

"The reality is every team is going to have ups and downs in a long season," Sharks captain Joe Thornton said. "They're hoping to get out of their funk, and so are we. But this is first time in a long while that both teams were struggling when we played each other. It's definitely different.""