It’s been well-documented that the San Jose Sharks have been one of the top road teams in the NHL over the course of the 2015-16 season. The Sharks continued their road-warrior mentality in scoring a big 2-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks to head home from their latest road trip on a high note.
San Jose has the second-most wins (18) on the road this year, one behind the Washington Capitals for tops in the league, as they have been able to perform at their peak time-and-again in their opponent’s home rinks.
While the Sharks still have to improve their play at SAP Center, they have been able to bank points on the road all season long. San Jose is tied for second with the Capitals with 84 goals on the road, while ranking fifth with an average of three goals per game.
One of the key figures for the Sharks in their ability to thrive on the road has been their goaltender, Martin Jones. In 23 road starts, Jones has a 16-5-2 with a 2.25 goals-against-average (GAA) and a .922 save percentage to go along with three shutouts. He played a pivotal role in last night’s win, making numerous key stops en route to a 33-save performance.
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Another interesting aspect of San Jose’s play on the road this season has been their ability to win the final games on these extended road trips. Earlier this season, the Sharks were able to record a perfect 6-0 road trip, capping it off with a come-from-behind victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
In December, San Jose embarked on a five-game road trip beginning with a three-game swing through Canada before concluding with a pair of Western Conference elites. The Sharks split the first four games on the trip, but put together another solid performance in scoring a big 5-3 victory over the division-leading Los Angeles Kings.
While they certainly had their ups-and-downs on this four-game trip after the All-Star break, San Jose was able to cap it all off with a complete performance in Chicago.
With 30 games remaining, the Sharks have just 13 road games remaining but they still have one big extended road trip looming. After a pair of home games tomorrow and Saturday, San Jose is right back at the airport for a five-game, eight-day road trip beginning with a Florida swing.
This will be a tough stretch of games as all five teams the Sharks are set to face are still battling for a playoff spot. Factor in all the extended travel San Jose has logged this month and this could be a make-or-break run for the boys in teal.
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The good news for Sharks fans is this team has proved time-and-again that they are willing and able to meet any challenge on the road. San Jose has the best road record in the Western Conference and that will serve them well as the race to the postseason intensifies.
The Sharks haven’t been the most consistent team at times this year, but the one constant has been their ability to win games away from the South Bay.