San Jose Sharks: 5 burning questions for 2018-19

3. Can San Jose carry over its Pacific Division success from 2018?

The Pacific Division has transformed into a highly competitive group over the past decade and since the league’s divisional realignment back in 2013-14. That leaves the Sharks with one of their major question marks heading into 2018-19 — can they continue their commendable success against divisional opponents?

As noted, the Sharks finished in third for the Pacific in just as many seasons, but the Teal hasn’t won the Pacific since 2010-11. Still, San Jose posted a 21-5-3 record against the Pacific last season, which also stood as the best in-division record for the entire league.

To put things in perspective, almost half of the Sharks’ points that they collected in the league standings (45) were against the Pacific. Regardless if the team finished in third place, that speaks volume to how good and discipline of a team that San Jose was last season and it will need to carry over that success if the Sharks want to make the playoffs for the fourth straight year.

Count on the Sharks’ rivals in the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks to improve from last season and also give San Jose a run for its money at the division title. Yes, teams all experience slumps throughout the course of an 82-game season, but experienced and legitimate playoff contenders come through in the clutch and realize just how important it is to collect as many points as possible against their respective division.

In the NHL, every point and game matters — just ask the 2015 Los Angeles Kings, right?