Final
Blue Jackets-Sharks Preview
Nov 2, 2015 - 6:31 PM The San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets have both dropped five of their last seven games. The difference is one team preceded that with a season-opening winning streak and is coming off an encouraging effort, while the other's 2-5-0 span has been a modest improvement, despite having another losing streak in the works.The Sharks begin a four-game homestand Tuesday night while Columbus faces a three-game West Coast trip that could sink it even deeper into the Metropolitan Division basement.
San Jose (6-5-0) ended a two-game skid with Sunday's 4-3 win over Colorado behind two goals from Brent Burns and an empty-netter from Joe Pavelski that gave him a goal in four straight games. Pavelski also has three goals in his last two against Columbus.
"A big two points, as big as two points can get (11) games into the season," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer told the team's official website. "We needed them. We had done enough to be close, but not enough to earn a win. Whether we had won or not, with the game we played I would have been happy. It's nice to get rewarded.
"It's probably the most honest game we've played for 60 minutes in a long time. You get rewarded for that. We've been close, but we haven't been (rewarded) and I thought we fixed that tonight."
Martin Jones got off to a scorching start with a 0.49 goals-against average and .982 save percentage in four straight wins to begin his time in San Jose, but he's since fallen off with 3.02 and .894 marks over a 2-3-0 span.
The former Los Angeles King gave up five goals in his only game against Columbus - a 5-3 loss in January 2014.
While San Jose has allowed 3.71 goals per game over the last seven, it might be as concerned with a power play that's gone 2 for 18 over the last eight games. Columbus', however, has been even worse.
The Blue Jackets' power play was about the only consistency early on, going 6 for 21 (28.6 percent) through five games, but over the last seven, it's 2 for 26 (7.7).
Columbus (2-10-0) won both meetings with the Sharks last season and has taken six of the last eight, but that's about all it has to fall back on at the moment. The Blue Jackets lost 3-2 at home to Winnipeg on Saturday.
"At times I thought we had chances to make plays and we have just not been able to," said coach John Tortorella, whose team plays Thursday at Los Angeles and Friday in Anaheim. "It's been a struggle. I know it's in the room. I know they are better players."
The Blue Jackets have dropped two straight since winning two of their first three under Tortorella.
The main concern under former coach Todd Richards was terrible defensive-zone play with 4.86 goals allowed per game. That's changed with 2.40 in the five under Tortorella, though Columbus would still like to see some improvement from Sergei Bobrovsky.
He was removed after giving up three goals in the first period against the Jets, bumping his GAA to 3.97. Bobrovsky hasn't been great in San Jose, going 2-1-0 with a 3.38 mark, though he's faced an average of 39.7 shots in those games.
- COLUMBUS: 5
SAN JOSE: 2
Final
Feb 26 4:47 PM - COLUMBUS: 5
SAN JOSE: 2
Final
Nov 4 1:09 AM - End of 3rd Period.
Nov 4 1:09 AM - COLUMBUS: 5
SAN JOSE: 2
End of Regulation
Nov 4 1:09 AM - COLUMBUS: 4
SAN JOSE: 2
End of 2nd
Nov 4 12:12 AM - End of 2nd Period.
Nov 4 12:12 AM - Goal scored by Ryan Murray assisted by Ryan Johansen and Brandon Saad
Blue Jackets 4, Sharks 2 2nd - 0:59Nov 4 12:10 AM - Goal scored by Boone Jenner assisted by Scott Hartnell
Blue Jackets 3, Sharks 2 2nd - 1:28Nov 4 12:10 AM - Goal scored by Joe Pavelski assisted by Joonas Donskoi
Blue Jackets 2, Sharks 2 2nd - 8:04Nov 3 11:57 PM - Goal scored by Scott Hartnell assisted by Ryan Johansen
Blue Jackets 2, Sharks 1 2nd - 11:06Nov 3 11:51 PM - End of 1st Period.
Nov 3 11:14 PM - COLUMBUS: 1
SAN JOSE: 1
End of 1st
Nov 3 11:14 PM - Goal scored by Joe Pavelski assisted by Justin Braun and Joe Thornton
Blue Jackets 1, Sharks 1 1st - 1:04Nov 3 11:12 PM - Power play - Goal scored by Brandon Saad assisted by Brandon Dubinsky and Kevin Connauton
Blue Jackets 1, Sharks 0 1st - 13:49Nov 3 10:47 PM - Ryan Johansen won faceoff against Tomas Hertl in neutral zone
Nov 3 10:39 PM - COLUMBUS: 0
SAN JOSE: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Nov 3 10:39 PM
Related News
- New site is live Mar 29
- The Cannon is moving! Mar 29
- Game 73 Recap: Jackets and Rangers play chaotic first period, New York dominates the rest of the way to beat Columbus 6-2 Mar 28
- Jets at Sharks: Lines, open thread and how to watch Mar 28
- Game #73 Preview: Blue Jackets limp into New York Mar 28
- Has Kent Johnson improved this season? Mar 27
- Start of something new update Mar 26
- Blue Jackets allow six unanswered goals to Canadiens in blowout loss Mar 25
- Game #72 Preview/Gamethread: Bleu Jackets voyage to Montreal Mar 25
- Sharks at Flames: Lines, open thread and how to watch Mar 25
- Game #71 Recap: Kent Johnson Michigan goal helps Blue Jackets to overtime win over Islanders Mar 24
- GameThread #71 - Islanders at Blue Jackets Mar 24