San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn worked on team defense today.

San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn worked on team defense today.

During last night's 5-3 loss to the Florida Panthers, the Sharks bad defensive habits were exposed. 

Quinn has often talked about picking up sticks in the middle of the ice, and on Kevin Stenlund's goal, that is precisely what didn't happen.

"[We worked on] net front," Quinn said today. "Just box outs and being harder to play against."

He went into detail about what he is looking for while his team plays in the defensive zone.

"One of the things that they did, and it happens throughout the league, is that a lot of the weak side rims we're not ready for, and we're allowing the back of the net way too much in our own end," Quinn explained. "[That allows] the other team to spend more time in our end." 

Nico Sturm and Quinn also talked about players' positioning during faceoffs.

^{*NOTE* Specific faceoff analysis article will come out tomorrow**}

The Sharks sit at No. 3 in the league in FO%, 54.5%. While winning these draws is great, Quinn explained what needs to happen to start benefitting from them.

"We've got to do a better job creating chances off of it or at least a shot and then retrieval and zone time off of it," Quinn said. "That's something that we haven't done a great job of. That's on our D-men. They've got to be a little bit more alert when they get a puck."

The defensive zone faceoff positioning needs better as well. Against the Anaheim Ducks, Frank Vatrano got inside position off the faceoff and was left alone in the slot.

Watch the right side of the faceoff circle. Vatrano is set up next to Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and right as the puck is dropped, Vatrano gets inside position.

As soon as the puck gets to the point, Vatrano has a free deflection in the slot.

Here is another angle of how much space he has in the slot.

The Sharks focused on defense today, both 5v5 and penalty killing. Subtle adjustments have been slowly taking effect, but more significant attention to detail is needed.

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