San Jose Sharks Prepare For First Road Trek
The first week of the season could not have gone any better for the San Jose Sharks. After posting 5-1 and 2-0 victories over the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks, the Sharks sit atop the Pacific Division which is where they’d like to remain come season’s end.
Beginning tomorrow, San Jose prepares for a four-game road trip that will take them to the East Coast and test this team in a different way. The Sharks passed their first tests of the season when they defeated the Kings and Ducks, but now San Jose must deal with their first extended road trip of the season.
Just like last season, the Sharks were impressive in their first games out of the shoot. San Jose posted back-to-back shutouts in their first two games, before the Sharks went on a similar road trip to the East Coast where San Jose went 2-2-1.
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The Sharks will visit the nation’s capital to kick off the trip against the retooled Washington Capitals. The Capitals are considered one of the favorites in the East, and will provide another early season test for San Jose. Also, it will be a homecoming for Joel Ward, whose line was the best one on the ice during the Sharks victory over the Ducks on Saturday.
San Jose then continues the homecoming tour as they face the New Jersey Devils on Friday, Oct. 16. You know that game will be a big one for Peter DeBoer who was fired in Dec. of 2014 by the Devils. Look for the Sharks to be primed and ready for that matchup.
The next night, San Jose will check out the new home of the New York Islanders as they visit the Barclays Center for the first time. The Islanders are a talented group whose speed will be a change from the heavy forechecking games the Sharks faced to begin the season.
Finally, in perhaps the toughest matchup of the entire road trip, San Jose will square off against New York’s other team when they take on the Rangers. The New York Rangers are one of the best teams in the NHL, and they’re off to a hot start, with wins in their first three games.
After the victory over Anaheim, DeBoer said his team made a statement that these Sharks are different. Well, over the course of the next week, San Jose will get their opportunity to showcase their new look team against some of the Eastern Conference’s best teams.
Next: San Jose Sharks Weekly Roundup