JGD 38: Jets Are In The Tank To Face The Sharks

Paul Maurice and his crew are hoping 2016 starts off better than how 2015 ended as they play the second game of their five game west coast road trip by stopping in San Jose to play the Sharks.

For as bad as the Winnipeg Jets have been on the road, the San Jose Sharks – who are in the third game of a four game home stand – are just as terrible at home in San Jose Arena HP Pavilion SAP Center The Shark Tank with a record of 5-10-0 in what has traditionally been a stronghold for them. They’ve also been playing .500 hockey as of late going 4-4-2 in their last 10 games, though they had a strong showing against the Philadelphia Flyers in a 4-2 win back on Wednesday.

We all know what struggles the Jets have had as of late in taking bad penalties and being unable to kill those penalties. That could easily continue tonight as the Sharks power play is at 21.8% which is 5th best in the NHL and has been red hot lately. Their penalty kill is just as good at 81.4% which is 10th best in the league.

Needless to say, special teams will again be a key tonight and the Jets have to stay out of the box if they want any hope in winning.

Second line duty seemed to agree with Adam Lowry as he posted a two goal game in Glendale on Thursday night. That said, Mark Scheifele skated the full warmup that night but didn’t play in the game, so don’t be 100% shocked to see him back in the lineup tonight.

No changes for the Jets here either. This may be a good time to mention the Jets have lost 12 of their last 13 games on the road. There, now you’re not thinking of how bad that 3rd defensive pairing for the Jets is any more.

No starter was named as of press time, but either Connor Hellebuyck is starting the ninth game of the Jets last ten or Hutchinson will draw in for the first time since December 22 when he dropped a 29 save 4-1 loss to the Calgary Flames. With this being the first of a back to back to back, expect Connor to get the start tonight whole Hutchinson will draw the Ducks.

Joe Pavelski leads the Sharks in scoring with 20 goals and 38 points. He’s had points in eight of his last nine games, four of those games were multi point efforts and he has scored at least once in six of those last nine. Veterans Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton are still dangerous offensive players in their own right.

Brent Burns is a powerplay specialist and is not afraid to shoot the puck (He’s 3rd in the NHL with 159 shots taken) and leads the league in facial hair. The Sharks are middle of the pack in goals against overall but are the 5th worst team in the NHL in goals against while playing 5 on 5. (71 goals against 5 on 5 compared to the Jets 61) It’s on special teams where this group shines, so as mentioned, the Jets would be wise to play a clean game.

Jones has been decent in his first season as an NHL starter after two years of backing up in LA. He had a fairly pedestrian game on Wednesday as he only 17 saves on 19 shots during the Sharks win versus the Flyers. He will probably be starting tonight against the Jets.

Game Day Prediction: The Jets can’t seem to be able to help themselves when it comes to taking penalties and it costs them big tonight against at team that ranks as one of the best with the extra man. Sharks win 5-2.

Obvious Prediction: The game is being broadcast on Sportsnet so we’ll probably hear a lot about the Maple Leafs during the intermissions.

Not So Obvious Prediction: Joel Armia has looked decent the last couple of games, so it would be nice to see him rewarded with a goal.