Feb 2, 2015; San Jose, CA, USA; The San Jose Sharks player skates onto the ice prior to the game against the Edmonton Oilers at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Yesterday, it was announced that the San Jose Sharks would open their 2015-16 campaign against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on the opening night of the NHL season on October 7. Three nights later, the Sharks are set to host their other Southern California rival as they kick off the home portion of their schedule against the Anaheim Ducks on October 10.
Earlier this morning, the NHL released the full schedule for the 2015-16 season, one that will see San Jose play 27 games against their Pacific Division brethren. The Sharks will play the Arizona Coyotes, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks five times, while they face their former head coach in Todd McLellan and the Edmonton Oilers, Ducks and Kings four times each. Speaking of McLellan, he will return to SAP Center for the first time on January 14 as Sharks fans will get their first look at phenom Connor McDavid.
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Once again, the Sharks will play every team in the NHL at least twice, meaning San Jose fans will be able to catch every team at SAP Center this season.
New head coach Peter DeBoer will face a daunting early stretch, as the Sharks face a road-heavy schedule in the early going. While it isn’t as bad as last season when San Jose set an NHL record by playing 16 of their first 21 on the road, the Sharks will begin with a stretch of 13 of their first 21 on the road. Plenty of bonding time for a new coaching staff and a team that will be looking to bounce back after last season’s failures.
DeBoer won’t have to wait long for the chance to visit his old club as the Sharks will travel to play the New Jersey Devils on Friday, October 16, the fourth game of the season. Other interesting schedule notes include that the Sharks will play 13 back-to-backs, their longest road trip will be six games from November 13-22, while their longest homestand will also be six games from March 19-28.
While the Sharks open the season on the road, San Jose will wrap up their 2015-16 season with a pair of home games against the Winnipeg Jets and the Coyotes, with the latter coming on the final day of the season on Saturday, April 9.
A full list of the Sharks schedule can be found here.