Oct 14, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (88) checks Washington Capitals left wing Andre Burakovsky (65) in the third period at Verizon Center. The Sharks won 6-5 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Well it’s that time of year again for Sharks fans. Once again San Jose has come roaring out of the gate starting off the season at 3-0-1 and posting impressive shutout wins over the LA Kings and Winnipeg Jets. Impressive starts are nothing new for this team however. In the lockout shortened 2012-2013 season the Sharks won their first 7 games of the season, and then had a bit of a drop off. The following season, the same thing happened, the Sharks won their first 6 games, and then their play faded off again. After a shootout loss to the red hot Islanders, the Sharks are now facing their first test as a team. How they respond to this first bit of adversity should say a lot about where this team is headed this year. The Pacific Division is going to be as tough as ever to win this year. The way I see it, the Sharks have two other teams that will really compete for the Division title this year, and those teams are Anaheim and Los Angeles. Vancouver has looked much improved at the start of this season, but they’re not the President’s cup winning team they were just a few years back. All this to say the Sharks have a real shot at winning the Pacific this year, and here are 10 reasons why.