The Sharks look to improve to 5-0 as they welcome the Ottawa Senators into SAP Center for the only time this season. San Jose and Ottawa are 1-2 in terms of shots per game so expect both net-minders to be busy tonight.
Ottawa has taken a result from each of their first three games and are sixth in the league in Corsi-for percentage while the Sharks are, as you know, unbeaten and on top of the league in Corsi-for.
The major weakness of the Sens this season has been the penalty kill, which should have Sharks fans licking their chops. Ottawa has put teams on the man-advantage at an alarming rate (16 times in three games) and they are killing penalties at a 75 percent rate. Small sample size, but if there is a weakness in Ottawa’s penalty kill, expect the Sharks to find a way to exploit it.
Powerplay goals are great, but this Sharks team has scored at 5v5 at a pace many of thought was not possible after last season. The two biggest concerns about the Sharks offense last year was A) Scoring depth and B) Scoring at even strength. Here we are in October of 2013 talking about Marc-Edouard Vlasic’s two goals and oodles of scoring from even strength. Feels good.
San Jose has four convincing wins under their belts, but none of those games are the true measuring-stick types we’re all waiting for. When the Sharks take on the Blackhawks and Kings for the first time this season, we’ll have a better idea where this team stands amongst squads they’ll be playing in the postseason.
This game is on Hockey Night in Canada (hence the 7:00 p.m. home start) so that will be … fun for the Canadian Sharks fans among us?
Daniel Alfredsson isn’t on this team anymore. That’s weird.