San Jose Sharks Seek Season Sweep Of Pittsburgh

The San Jose Sharks will face a familiar foe to conclude their brief three-game home stand when they place host to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a national TV broadcast on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN). The Sharks and Penguins squared off less than two weeks ago when San Jose edged Pittsburgh by a 3-1 margin behind two goals from Brent Burns and his first goal in teal from his defense partner Paul Martin.

Martin Jones racked up a season-high 38 saves in the win as the Sharks blue line paved the way for San Jose’s fifth-straight win on that particular road trip. Heading into this game, the Sharks are looking to win consecutive home games for the first time all season following their convincing 5-2 victory over the reeling Calgary Flames on Saturday night.

These two teams are pretty evenly matched as both teams rely heavily on their top-six forwards to shoulder the load offensively. San Jose counts on Joe Pavelski, Patrick Marleau, Brent Burns and Joe Thornton, while Pittsburgh counters with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Phil Kessel. Where this game could be decided is which team can get more out of their depth players.

Last time out, the Sharks received huge contributions from their third line, especially Tomas Hertl and Tommy Wingels who played probably their best games of the year. San Jose will want to replicate their effort in Pittsburgh. The Sharks played a very solid game, and their defensive corps chipped in offensively. If they can duplicate that again tonight, it should be another positive result for the boys in teal.

Players to Watch

More from Blades of Teal

Sharks: Patrick Marleau. Marleau scored his 1,000th point last time out against the Penguins, and he is set to be recognized by the organization prior to this game for accomplishing that feat. Also of note, Marleau has been on fire lately, registering three goals and four assists in his last four games, including a three-game goal scoring streak.

Penguins: Sidney Crosby. The best player on the planet has experienced a down season to this, with just five goals and 10 assists through the first 23 games. However, Crosby has found his scoring touch of late with a five-game point streak (three goals, three assists).

Keys to the Game

1. Maintain Power Play Effectiveness

The Sharks have struggled all year with the man advantage, but they’ve found some success in recent games. San Jose has bumped their rating up to 24th in the league following two power play goals against Calgary. The Sharks have scored a power play goal in three consecutive games as they seem to have figured out some of their early season woes.

2. Depth Contributions

As mentioned previously, San Jose’s third line played their best game of the season against the Flames and will need to consistently provide that presence. It can’t be a one game blip on the radar. The Sharks need their role players to continue to impact the game, especially offensively, so their big guns aren’t worn down by the end of the season.

3. Build Home Momentum

San Jose will be busting out their Heritage Jerseys for the second time this season, and it would go a long way for the Sharks chances if their play on home ice generated more buzz than the jerseys they are wearing. The Sharks need to continue to improve their play at SAP Center and help re-establish their home ice advantage that has existed for years.

Next: Pacific Division Stock Report: Sharks Keep Pace Up Top

TV/Radio

TV: NBCSN (7:30 p.m. PST)

Radio: 98.5 KFOX

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