Blades of Teal
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San Jose Sharks Look To Keep Things Rolling At Home

By Patrick Leiva

May 12, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; A general view of the arena before the between Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks in game 7 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
May 12, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; A general view of the arena before the between Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks in game 7 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /
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San Jose has bounced back from their regular season struggles at SAP Center and have become one of the best home ice teams in the playoffs.

The struggles of the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center have been well-documented this season, and their 18-20-3 was a major storyline heading into the playoffs.

However, team teal has answered the bell once the postseason began as the Sharks are the best home team with a 5-1 record, including a current five-game winning streak.

San Jose will look to continue their dominant play inside the Shark Tank as they look to take control of this Western Conference Final over the next two contests. It begins tonight as team teal hosts the St. Louis Blues in a pivotal Game 3 matchup.

The Sharks have been a different team at SAP Center during this postseason run as they’re resembling the teams of old who used to suffocate their opponents.

Team teal dropped their opening game against the Kings, but even that was in overtime in a game they could’ve easily won.

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San Jose has fed off the energy of their crowd and have taken their game to another level at the Shark Tank. The Sharks have outscored their opponents by a 22-9 margin on home ice, including an 18-5 advantage over Nashville in their four games during the second round.

Team teal’s speed is certainly more evident at the SAP Center as San Jose seems to be shot out of a cannon from the get go.

Also, it’s not just the offense that has been great, but the defense has been just as good. The Sharks are allowing just 1.50 goals per game in these playoffs on home ice, and Martin Jones has been phenomenal with a .946 save percentage.

The home team has generated two more shots per game than their opposition and they’ve held a massive penalty advantage as team teal’s opponents have been penalized for 46 more minutes than San Jose on home ice.

Despite all those great numbers, the Sharks will have their hands full with this Blues team which has excelled away from Scottrade Center. St. Louis is 5-2 on the road, including a blowout in Game 7 against Dallas.

The Blues have outscored their opponents 25-18 as the visiting team, and their goal production jumps from 2.33 goals per game at home to 3.57 goals per game on the road, the best mark in these playoffs.

Also, Brian Elliott has been great, posting a 2.38 GAA and a .934 save percentage, even though St. Louis has been outshot by an average of 11 shots per game on the road in their seven games (37.1 shots against opposed to 26 shots for).

For the Sharks to be successful, they will have to keep doing what they’re doing in this series as they are clearly frustrating the Blues.

Next: Sharks: Five Takeaways From St. Louis

San Jose has to come ready to work as they won’t be assured a victory just because of their past track record. They must continue to use their speed to attack St. Louis and not let up over the course of 60 minutes.

Something will have to give tonight in Game 3, but one thing is for sure, the Tank will be ready and raring to go to welcome the boys home.

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