SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) – The playoffs started the way much of this season has gone for the San Jose Sharks: a successful road trip where structured defense, strong goaltending and solid all-around play led to two straight wins in Los Angeles.
Now the task for the Sharks is figuring out how to take that road success they have enjoyed all season and bring it back to San Jose where the once-imposing Shark Tank has become too comfortable for visiting teams.
The NHL’s top road team in the regular season lost more games on home ice than any other playoff team. It’s a similar pattern to last season when home struggles left San Jose outside the playoffs for the first time since 2003 and is somewhat perplexing giving how dominant the Sharks historically have been at home in front of their rabid fans.
“We’ve hit a little hiccup where the last couple of regular seasons we haven’t been as strong, but I don’t think it takes our confidence away at being home,” captain Joe Pavelski said Sunday. “It’s something you don’t dwell on. You know the fans are going to show up. I can already see what the atmosphere is going to be like as we skate out of the Shark head. It’s something we’re looking forward to.”
The Sharks will take a 2-0 series lead into Game 3 Monday night against the Kings in their first home playoff game since losing Game 7 to Los Angeles in the first round two years ago.