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Can the San Jose Sharks Turn the Tide Against St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center?

As the San Jose Sharks prepare to face off against the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center, fans are anticipating a challenging game ahead. The Sharks have been navigating through rough waters recently, with their performance in past games showing some areas of concern.


Nov 16, 2023; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen (36) tends goal against the St. Louis Blues during the first period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports

In their last encounter, the Sharks were outplayed by the Nashville Predators with a significant 8-2 loss. Despite managing to score twice and landing 20 shots on goal, they struggled defensively, allowing 40 shots and eight goals against them. Their faceoff win percentage was a mere 33 percent, which is an area they'll need to improve upon if they hope to control the game's pace against the Blues.


The previous game saw a similar trend where despite scoring early with two goals in the first period against Chicago Blackhawks, they couldn't sustain this lead and eventually lost 5-2. The team's shooting percentage dropped to seven percent while their faceoff win rate slightly improved to 45 percent.


Nov 16, 2023; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen (36) extends his stick to control a loose puck with defenseman Jan Rutta (84) against St. Louis Blues right wing Kasperi Kapanen (42) during the first period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports

Looking further back at their match-up with Columbus Blue Jackets, it was another tough loss for San Jose as they scored two goals but conceded four times including an empty-netter that sealed their fate in a 4-2 defeat. Their shooting percentage was low at five percent despite taking an impressive number of shots (41), indicating that finishing is another critical area for improvement.


The upcoming game will require San Jose Sharks not only to step up offensively but also tighten up their defense and goaltending which has been under pressure recently. Winning faceoffs will be crucial for maintaining possession and creating scoring opportunities while minimizing giveaways will help prevent counterattacks from a strong Blues side.


Nov 16, 2023; San Jose, California, USA; St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) does the splits to make a save against San Jose Sharks center William Eklund (72) during the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports

Fans can catch all of this action on March 31st when these two teams clash at Enterprise Center in St. Louis; puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM CT (Central Time). The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+ online as well as NBCS-CA and BSMW television networks.

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