San Jose Sharks Looking To Gel On Upcoming Trip
The road is often a good time for professional teams to come together, and the San Jose Sharks are hoping their six-game, 10-day trek throughout the Eastern Conference will help this team gel both on-and-off the ice. After beginning the season with four straight wins, San Jose has gone just 3-8-0 since that point, leaving them below the .500 mark (7-8-0, 14 points) for the first time all year.
The Sharks have been woefully inconsistent all season, failing to post consecutive victories since that opening 4-0 stretch. While San Jose hasn’t shown any indication that they’re going to break their recent form, this road trip will provide them with a chance to find out more about themselves as a unit.
Now this six-game trip won’t be easy as the schedule-makers have done little favors for the Sharks. San Jose begins the trip with a back-to-back games against Detroit and Buffalo, and they end with consecutive games against the Penguins and Blue Jackets. However, the Sharks only face two teams with above .500 records (Detroit and Pittsburgh), and the combined records of their six foes is 42-46-5. Basically, a mediocre San Jose team has a chance to get right against some fairly average opposition on this trip.
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The key will be, whether the Sharks can overcome their own poor play, specifically their starts. San Jose hasn’t been able to play with a lead, and when they have scored first, it’s typically led to a victory for the boys in teal. San Jose is 5-1 when they score the first goal of the game; consequently, the Sharks are just 2-7 in games where they allow the first goal. Simply put, San Jose is a much better team when they play with a lead, not so much when coming from behind.
Another factor the Sharks will look to build upon is they actually have a better record on the road than at home. Currently, San Jose sports a 4-3-0 record away from the friendly confines of SAP Center where the Sharks are just 3-5-0. Typically, San Jose plays a much simpler game on the road and that could serve them well as they look to turn things around.
While it might be a little early to consider these make-or-break games for the Sharks, they could be telling about the future for the team. For instance, if San Jose can put together a successful trip, then the perception of this team will change and they can begin to build something this year. However, if things go the other direction, the rumors surrounding the Sharks will only intensify. There might be more names made available than just Patrick Marleau if San Jose doesn’t fare well.
Next: Sharks Kick Off Season's Longest Road Trip Against Red Wings
This Sharks team feels like a more talented group than last year’s, but they’re not performing like it at the moment. San Jose has an opportunity to alter that perception during this six-game trip, one that could go a long way in determining how this team fares in 2015-16.