Can't it be both/a combination of factors? The Sharks have been playing from behind, their D-zone coverage has been garbage, and they've been taking a bunch of stupid stick foul/holding penalties as a result. They're not going to get the benefit of the doubt on borderline stuff because they're committing the obvious stuff, and that seems reasonable.
Where I do have an issue with it, though, is that they're not getting the calls on more dangerous player safety-type plays. That to me is a problem because if you call nothing else, call the ones that affect the score and the ones that could get somebody hurt. And I think at least some of that is because of the fallout from last year's playoffs.
...or they just suck all around. Is interference still in the rule book?