The San Jose Sharks returned to reality after losing to the Vegas Golden Knights.

The San Jose Sharks lost to the Vegas Golden Knights 5-0, and here are the takeaways.

1. Blackwood is the No. 1 goalie

By no means did Kaapo Kahkonen play poorly last night, but he was a clear step below what Mackenzie Blackwood has been performing. 

Kahkonen made 34 saves last night. After two periods of play, the Sharks were down 2-0, largely to Kahkonen's play. The Finnish netminder stopped all 13 shots he faced in the second frame.

While his performance was good, it wasn't elite like Blackwood. Blackwood's play will be challenging to sustain, but Kahkonen's strong play allows the Sharks a good one-two punch in the crease.

2. Tired legs

The San Jose Sharks showed a fight through two periods against the reigning champs. San Jose was playing on the second half of a back-to-back, and it showed. 

Nobody on the Sharks could generate offense in the third period. 

"Right from the get-go, we looked flat for sure," Sharks coach David Quinn said. "Getting down again 2-0 certainly didn't help our cause. We were just half a step behind all night long."

Quinn is giving the team a well-deserved day off today. It is their first day off since last Sunday.

3. Reality check

Vibes were high surrounding the Sharks ahead of last night's game. Unfortunately for Team Teal, the defending Stanley Cup Champions kicked them back to reality.

Coming off their first two wins of the season, the Sharks wanted to shock the world. The reality of the situation is that they are not going to be anywhere close to competing with teams like VGK.

Although the score doesn't describe it, the Sharks play was much better in this loss than in previous losses. They were competitive this time around. The Sharks should remain towards the bottom of the NHL standings.

Make sure you bookmark THN's San Jose Sharks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

SOURCE: Golden Knights Goalie Not Allowed to Put Cancer Ribbon On Helmet

Champs Flex Muscles: Golden Knights Beat Sharks 5-0

Despite Struggles, Sharks Value Continues To Grow

Blackwood's Elite Play Is Carrying Sharks

• undefined