Sharks announce home opener
Is it October yet?
Though the full schedule won’t be released until tomorrow at 2 pm EST, all 31 teams announced their opening night opponents and dates earlier today.
The first home game (and presumably, the first game of the season) for the Sharks will be Wednesday October 3, against the Anaheim Ducks. The Sharks swept the Ducks in the first round of the 2018 playoffs, which sets the stage for an intense game between the California rivals.
In addition, the Sharks will be featured in two other home openers. They’ll travel to Los Angeles on Friday October 5 to open the Kings’ season at Staples Center and then to Philadelphia to face the Flyers for their home opener on Tuesday October 9. The Sharks lost their 2017-18 home opener against the Flyers last year, in a 5-3 game featuring a hat trick from Wayne Simmonds and two goals from Kevin Labanc.
Since the league tends to do cross-country travel in swings, the Sharks might not return to SAP Center for a bit after their home opener, as they visit other Eastern Conference teams.
Let the Duck Hunt begin!