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The Morning After: San Jose has been historically good on the road

San Jose’s recent five-game road swing ended with something of a thud as the Sharks fell to the Avalanche 4-3 in the shootout. Still, San Jose can take solace in the fact that the team is in the midst of one of its best ever seasons on the road. After taking seven out of 10 points on the most recent road swing the Sharks have already matched their road wins total from a season ago…and that’s not all they’re doing.

In the 24 seasons the Sharks have played ice hockey in the NHL, the 2015-16 season ranks second for team teal in points percentage on the road. San Jose has earned 68 percent of its possible points on the road this season, second only to the 2007-08 season when the Sharks notched 71 percent of possible road points.

With eight road games remaining, San Jose’s 45 points points are 10th in franchise history in road points. The aforementioned 2007-08 season grabbed 58 points, which is still (technically) in the Sharks’ reach. San Jose could get a total of 61 points on the road this season; it’s unlikely, but the fact that it’s possible shows just how dominant the Sharks have been on the road.

If the Sharks continue to win at their current clip they’ll hit 55.76 points this season, good enough for second most road points in franchise history. San Jose has already locked up a 54.9 point percentage this season, which (as mentioned before) would be 10th in franchise history. Check out the full chart below.

Season Wins Losses OT Losses Ties Points Points Percentage
2008 27 10 4 58 0.7073170732
2007 26 14 1 53 0.6463414634
2010 24 14 3 51 0.6219512195
2011 23 14 4 50 0.6097560976
2009 21 13 7 49 0.5975609756
2014 22 15 4 48 0.5853658537
2004 19 13 4 5 47 0.5731707317
2015 21 16 4 46 0.5609756098
2001 18 13 2 8 46 0.5609756098
2016 21 9 3 45 0.5487804878
2002 19 16 1 5 44 0.5365853659
2006 19 18 4 42 0.512195122
2012 17 17 7 41 0.5
2000 14 16 4 7 39 0.4756097561
1998 17 19 5 39 0.4756097561
1999 14 18 9 37 0.4512195122
1995 9 12 3 21 0.4375
1994 14 22 6 34 0.4047619048
2003 11 21 5 4 31 0.3780487805
2013 8 14 2 18 0.375
1997 13 24 4 30 0.3658536585
1996 8 29 4 20 0.243902439
1992 3 35 2 8 0.1
1993 3 38 1 7 0.08333333333

Funnily enough, the Sharks have generated better possession numbers at home than they have on the road. San Jose’s 5v5 score-adjusted fenwick at home is 53.9 percent while it’s 51.6 on the road. The big difference? The Sharks PDO at home is 98 while it’s a sterling 102 on the road. Altogether that balances things out on the season for San Jose but goes some distance towards explaining why the Sharks have done so well on the road.

Regardless of the numbers, it’s been great seeing San Jose pick up so many positive results on the road. Now if they can keep this type of play up in the playoffs…well, now we’re talking about something.

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