San Jose Sharks’ path to first starts Thursday against Golden Knights
By C.L. Kohuss
The NHL playoff race continues Thursday as the San Jose Sharks take a stab at a first-place run against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Someone forgot to tell the San Jose Sharks that the Vegas Golden Knights, the new kids on the NHL pond, are destined for hockey greatness. If all goes the path of fairy tales for the rest of the year, movies could be made about them some day.
Yeah, someone forgot to tell the Sharks…or the Sharks found out and have decided to wreck the party. That’s an NHL team for ya’.
In what amounts to nothing less than a stellar first campaign for the Golden Knights franchise, San Jose wants to put together its own magical run. On Thursday night they’ll try to creep to within six points of first place in the Pacific Division, a spot occupied at the moment by Vegas.
Here’s everything you need to know to tune in:
San Jose Sharks vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Date: Thursday, March 22
Location: SAP Center, San Jose
Time: 10 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN
Live stream: Fubo.TV
Since the beginning of March, the Golden Knights have sputtered a bit, going 6-4 in that span. By NHL standards, it’s a small letdown. But nevertheless, other teams are going to take advantage.
The Sharks have. In the same span, they’re 7-2. That includes a 6-2 punch to the face of would-be contender New Jersey on Tuesday. San Jose has scored at least four goals in each of its last five games.
But don’t expect Vegas to go down easy. The Knights are going for their third win against the Sharks this year, though they could be without starting goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. He left in the first period of their victory over Vancouver on Tuesday while Malcolm Subban came in to make 22 saves.
Vegas will have to supercharge its offense if Fleury can’t go. Subban has allowed 15 goals in his four prior starts. His last start came way back on February 2 against Minnesota.
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The two will face each other for the final time at the end of March, a game that could have heavy ramifications on the standings pending this one and the next week of hockey.