San Jose Sharks Martin Jones Stays Hot, Blanks Coyotes
If the preseason is any indication of things to come during the upcoming 2015-16 season, then Martin Jones is in for a big campaign during his first year as a member of the San Jose Sharks. Once again, Jones was rock solid between the pipes for San Jose, posting 18 saves in a 3-0 shutout victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Friday night.
The-6-foot-4 Jones has been spectacular this preseason and his play gives Sharks fans plenty of optimism heading into the regular season. During his four starts, Jones posted a 0.76 goals-against-average and a .970 save percentage, simply fantastic numbers.
Peter DeBoer decided to ice a veteran-laden lineup in San Jose’s penultimate game before the preseason concludes. The Sharks have struggled at times to generate consistent offense throughout their exhibition season, but that wasn’t the case on this night.
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San Jose outshot Arizona 30-18 in putting together a consistent effort on both ends of the ice. Joe Pavelski is in mid-season form for the Sharks, kicking off the scoring with a power-play less than six minutes into the game. Last season, Pavelski was second in the league in power play goals scored with 19, trailing only Alex Ovechkin in that category.
After a goal-less second, the Sharks seized control of this one with two goals in the third. Tomas Hertl, who could be settling into the third-line center role, scored 1:52 into the final frame with assists going to Matt Nieto and Brenden Dillon. Then, it was Pavelski again to seal the deal for San Jose.
Pavelski snapped one past Arizona goaltender Mike Smith to give the Sharks a 3-0 margin which was more than enough for Jones.
This was probably San Jose’s best and most complete effort of the preseason, and it was a perfect time to do so. The Sharks, like most teams, will be looking to get off to a hot start especially after the disastrous end to last year.
Jones was the biggest question mark for San Jose entering this season, and he’s gone out and performed each night. Jones posted two shutouts and has a calm, confident demeanor when in net. The Sharks will be leaning on him this season, and it all starts when he faces his former teammates in Los Angeles next Wednesday.
San Jose wraps up their preseason schedule with a tilt against the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center tonight. Expect a young lineup as DeBoer doesn’t want to risk any injuries to his key players with the regular season just around the corner.
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