Opinion
3 min read

Can the Sharks Outswim the Maple Leafs at SAP Center?

As the San Jose Sharks prepare to host the Toronto Maple Leafs at SAP Center, fans are eager to see if their team can rebound from recent setbacks. The upcoming clash on January 7th is not just another game; it's a chance for the Sharks to prove their mettle against one of the league's top teams.


Sep 24, 2023; San Jose, California, USA;  San Jose Sharks goalie Kaapo Kahkonen (36) watches the puck during the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Looking back at San Jose's performance in previous games, there are both positive takeaways and areas of concern. On January 5th against Winnipeg Jets, despite a narrow loss with only 1 point scored compared to Jets' 2 points, SJ showed resilience. Their goaltending was impeccable with a save percentage rounding up to an impressive 100 percent. However, they struggled on power plays and will need to capitalize on these opportunities against Toronto.


The game prior to that, played on January 3rd against Detroit Red Wings, saw SJ scoring more freely with a total of 3 goals. Yet again though, they fell short by allowing Detroit an upper hand with a shooting percentage of 16 percent leading them to score five times. The Sharks' penalty kill was effective as they managed not to concede any goals while shorthanded but ultimately lost due in part to an empty net goal.


The most concerning data comes from their December 31st encounter with Colorado Avalanche where SJ faced a significant defeat scoring only once while conceding three times excluding an empty net goal which brought final tally against them up by one more notch. This match highlighted some defensive frailties that could be exploited by Toronto’s potent offense.


Toronto Maple Leafs come into this game as formidable opponents boasting strong offensive capabilities which could pose serious threats for San Jose’s defense that has shown vulnerability under pressure in recent outings. The key for SJ lies in maintaining strong goaltending and improving faceoff win percentages which stood at an impressive average above fifty-five percent across past games but wasn't enough when it mattered most.


San Jose fans should expect their team to focus heavily on special teams play and defensive organization ahead of this high-stakes matchup. If they manage these aspects effectively while also leveraging home advantage at SAP Center where crowd support has always been influential – there is every reason for optimism.


With all eyes set on what promises be an electrifying night hockey action between two talented squads – loyal supporters can catch live broadcast ESPN+ nationally or NBCS-CA channel number six hundred ninety-eight locally starting from scheduled puck drop time precisely midnight Eastern Time zone (9 PM Pacific Time) right here heart California’s Bay Area city known as San Jose.

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