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Sharks and Blue Jackets Clash in the Battle at the Shark Tank

As the San Jose Sharks prepare to host the Columbus Blue Jackets at SAP Center, fans are eager to see if their team can turn around recent trends. The Sharks have had a challenging stretch in their last few games, with a mix of outcomes that highlight areas for improvement.


Mar 14, 2023; San Jose, California, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Daniil Tarasov (40) reacts after allowing a goal to San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture (39) during the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

In their most recent match against Vancouver Canucks, despite scoring four goals and achieving a shooting percentage of sixteen percent, they fell short defensively. The Sharks allowed seven goals on twenty-five shots against them. This loss was marked by an even-strength performance where they scored all four goals but also conceded six.


The game prior saw the Sharks face off against Arizona Coyotes at home. They managed to put up two goals from thirty-one shots, translating into a shooting percentage of six percent – a stark contrast to their previous outing's accuracy. However, defensive woes continued as they let in five goals on thirty shots.


Mar 14, 2023; San Jose, California, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets left winger Eric Robinson (50) warms up before his team takes on the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

Looking back further to their encounter with Los Angeles Kings, it was another low-scoring affair for San Jose with just one goal from sixteen shots – again showing six percent shooting efficiency. Despite this struggle on offense, goaltending was strong as they saved thirty-five out of thirty-nine shots.


Analyzing these performances reveals that while goaltending has been relatively solid (with save percentages consistently at or near one hundred percent), offensive production has fluctuated significantly. Moreover, special teams play appears inconsistent; powerplay opportunities have not been capitalized upon effectively.


Mar 14, 2023; San Jose, California, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Nick Blankenburg (77) tries to avoid San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture (39) during the first period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

As we approach this upcoming game against Columbus Blue Jackets on February 18th at 7:30 PM PST (3:30 AM UTC), it is crucial for the Sharks to bolster both offensive execution and defensive resilience if they wish to secure victory in front of their home crowd at SAP Center – affectionately known as "the Shark Tank."


Fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+ online or tune into NBCS-CA channel 698 for local TV coverage.

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