Opinion
3 min read

Will the San Jose Sharks Outmaneuver the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena?

As the National Hockey League season progresses, fans of the San Jose Sharks are looking ahead to their team's next challenge: a face-off against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. The upcoming game promises to be a pivotal moment for both teams, but it's the Sharks who have a particularly interesting path carved out before them.


Jan 30, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks left wing Anthony Duclair (10) plays the puck against Seattle Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak (24) during the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports

In their last encounter on April 2nd, despite an admirable effort, SJ fell short with a final score of 2-4. The statistics from that game reveal areas where SJ excelled and others where improvement is crucial. With 22 hits and a powerplay goal out of two opportunities, they demonstrated physicality and efficiency when they had the man advantage. However, their shooting percentage stood at only eight percent compared to SEA's twelve percent – an area that undoubtedly needs attention.


The Sharks' goaltending was solid with 28 saves reflecting a save percentage of one hundred percent; however, they allowed three goals on even strength and one empty-netter which sealed their fate in that game. On the flip side, SEA managed to capitalize on even-strength situations scoring four goals from twenty-eight shots indicating strong offensive play during regular playtime.


Jan 30, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; Seattle Kraken defenseman Will Borgen (3) shoots the puck against the San Jose Sharks during the first period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports

Looking back further into SJ's performance against St. Louis Blues on March 31st provides another glimpse into what could be expected in their upcoming match. A shutout victory with four goals scored and none conceded is exactly what fans would hope for against SEA. Their shooting percentage soared to twenty percent while delivering twenty-six hits – showcasing both precision in front of goal and dominance in physical play.


However, it wasn't just about offense; goaltending was impeccable with thirty-five saves ensuring not even one puck crossed their line – an aspect they'll want to replicate against SEA's aggressive attackers who have shown they can find the net given chances.


Jan 30, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic (44) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against the Seattle Kraken during the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports

Yet there remains an Achilles heel for SJ: faceoff win percentages were less than stellar across these games averaging around fifty-seven percent overall which could give SEA opportunities to control possession if not addressed properly by game day.


The upcoming clash scheduled for April 12th will test whether SJ has taken lessons from past performances seriously enough to overcome these challenges posed by SEA’s formidable squad. Fans eager to witness this battle can tune into ESPN+ online or catch it on television via NBCS-CA or ROOT Sports NW at 7:00 PM PT in Seattle’s own Climate Pledge Arena.

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