As the Sharks rampaged through the second half of the season, not-so-subtle signs were on display every night that something was different.

They could be seen each time Douglas Murray flattened an opponent or Ryane Clowe bloodied a nose. They were there when players known for smooth finesse, such as Joe Thornton, showed more willingness to check and tussle for loose pucks.

This was a new breed of Shark, one with teeth.

That’s why, when push comes to shove in the Stanley Cup playoffs beginning Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings, the Sharks may be better equipped for the postseason than they have ever been in their 20-year existence. Long praised for their skill-laden rosters, these Sharks have added an element of raw grit.

“There’s been a change in their mindset,” said Darren Pang, a former NHL goaltender and national broadcaster. “It’s almost like a contest to see who can block shots and win battles on the boards. They’re realizing that it’s not always pretty plays that are going to win a Stanley Cup.”

They’re also not making friends. Murray, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound defenseman who has become the Shark most likely to get under someone’s skin, conceded: “I’m not very popular.”

The Sharks, as a group, have become unpopular, with opponents chirping late in the season about their physical play.

“A team that’s tough in every aspect is very intimidating to play,” said center Scott Nichol, a rough-and-tumble player despite being the smallest man on the roster. “We’re a heavy team that has a lot of guys who can take care of themselves.”

Murray and Clowe get most of the notoriety. Jamal Mayers and Ben Eager, both additions this season, have added muscle.

But San Jose, the NHL’s biggest team at an average of 6-1 and 209 pounds, has a lineup full of mobile players willing to throw their weight around. Following Thornton’s lead, the Sharks also have sacrificed individual points to focus on the dirty work.

“They’re built better for the playoffs than they’ve been in the past,” said former Shark Jeremy Roenick, now a television analyst. “I don’t care how talented you are. If you’re not going to compete physically and fight back, you’re going to get beat by a harder-working team.”

The Sharks long have been criticized for being soft underachievers. But an evolution began last spring with their strong run to the Western Conference finals.

The Sharks’ edge vanished the first three months of this season, though. Then inconsistency gave way to flat-out poor play.

On Jan. 13, the Sharks lost to Edmonton 5-2 at HP Pavilion for their sixth consecutive defeat in regulation — the team’s worst streak in 15 years. San Jose was 21-19-5 and off the playoff radar.

“We thought we could just win on our merit,” said Nichol, who has returned in time for the playoffs from a shoulder injury. “We were wondering, ‘Why are teams coming into our place and beating us?’ Well it’s because we weren’t playing that in-your-face, grind-you-down style.”

The Sharks simplified their game, zeroing in on hockey’s details. They began averaging an additional two hits and three blocked shots a game. They improved their forecheck — pressuring opponents when the other team is in possession of the puck in its defensive zone.

They adopted coach Todd McLellan’s expression of “a race to three” — make sure you get at least three goals and then trust the defense and goaltender Antti Niemi to do the rest.

The result: The Sharks went on a 27-6-4 run to finish the season as the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed.

“We’ve always had toughness,” Murray said. “But when it comes to hitting, we just have a little more physical play throughout the team. Our forecheck has helped so much. You beat people up. We always had some of that in us, but it has given us an added dimension.”

Clowe has become the scruffy face of the Sharks’ feisty attitude. He was one of only three NHL players this season to have 60-plus points and log 100 penalty minutes. The assistant captain often has led with his fists.

“When somebody tries something with a teammate, it’s like they’re trying to one-up us and take control of the game physically,” said Clowe, who will be back from a lower-body injury for the playoffs. “I don’t like that feeling. Teams know that if they take some liberties, they’ll have to deal with me.”

Clowe is protective of everyone. (“Ryane keeps watch over the whole flock,” McLellan said.) But he’s particularly watchful of rookie Logan Couture, whose 32 goals led to increased attention from opponents.

“I’m papa bear and I’m looking after my cub,” Clowe said.

That watch-your-back camaraderie is team-wide. In the waning minutes of an April 4 victory over Los Angeles, Murray was scuffling with two Kings when 190-pound Dan Boyle jumped into the fray.

“Dougie can take on four guys, and I’ll take the other one,” joked Boyle, an All-Star defenseman. Turning serious, he added: “We have guys who stand up for one another.”

But from Pang’s perspective, the difference in the Sharks begins at the top with Thornton. Although the captain’s scoring production dropped to 70 points this year, Pang thinks his overall game soared. One indication: Thornton led the NHL in takeaways with 114.

“I don’t see Joe cheating defensively anymore,” Pang said. “When your top player is leading by example, everybody falls in line.”

Historically, the postseason is when the Sharks have fallen. And Roenick thinks they will have to become even more gritty and bad-tempered to prevent that from occurring again.

“When Joe Thornton becomes a mean hockey player, he’s impossible to stop,” Roenick said. “Patrick Marleau needs to find somewhere in his being to get nasty. He’s one of the most talented guys I’ve ever played with, but he doesn’t have any anger or ferocity. The Sharks will win if they both become angry, pain-in-the-ass players.”

For inspiration, they only need to look across the ice at ornery teammates such as Murray and Clowe.

Contact Mark Emmons at 408-920-5745.