In just a few days, the Sharks will start the first round of the playoffs against either the Ducks or Kings in Southern California. Before that happens, they have one more regular season game to play against the Coyotes.
With the third playoff seed secured, this game is utterly meaningless for the Sharks—nothing more than a Spring Training-esque tuneup for the postseason. Don’t be surprised if some of their key players join Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Matt Nieto (Vlasic, at least, is expected to return for Game 1) on the sidelines.
Enjoy the last night of stress-free hockey we’ll see until October. There’s something between two weeks and, if we’re really lucky, two months of the barf-inducing kind coming up. Go Sharks.
Tale of the Tape
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@ |  |
| 45–30–6 | Record | 35–38–8 |
| 3rd in Pacific | Rank | 4th in Pacific |
| 53.3% | Score-Adj. Fenwick | 46.0% |
| 100.0 | PDO | 100.5 |
| 22.7 | PP% | 17.9 |
| 80.2 | PK% | 77.2 |
7:30 PST – SAP Center – San Jose, California
TV: CSN-CA – Radio: KFOX 98.5
Know Your Enemy: Five for Howling
Last meeting
James Reimer made 25 saves to pick up his second of three shutouts since coming to San Jose. Joel Ward and Tomas Hertl scored against Shark-killer Mike Smith and Joe Pavelski added an empty net power play goal at the end.
Storylines
- Martin Jones, San Jose’s all-but-certain Game 1 starter, will be in net tonight.
- We could know who the Sharks will face in the first round before the puck drops at 7:30. Here’s a refresher on all the different scenarios.
- Whatever happens, we’ll find out exactly when and where the Sharks will start the first round tomorrow night.
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