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Stanley Cup Playoffs 2019: Sharks vs. Golden Knights preview and prediction

By Griffin Youngs

SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 6: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Vegas Golden Knights and Joe Pavelski #8 of the San Jose Sharks shake hands after the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Sharks 3-0 to win the Second Round and advance to the Western Conference Final in Game Six of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on May 6, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Don Smith/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 6: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Vegas Golden Knights and Joe Pavelski #8 of the San Jose Sharks shake hands after the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Sharks 3-0 to win the Second Round and advance to the Western Conference Final in Game Six of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on May 6, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Don Smith/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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The San Jose Sharks take on the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, a rematch of last years classic second round series.

Despite only being in the NHL for two full seasons, the Vegas Golden Knights already have a playoff rematch on their hands as they face off once again with the high powered San Jose Sharks, this time in the first round with even more on the line then their last go around.

The Golden Knights took last years second round series in six games over the San Jose Sharks on their way to the Stanley Cup Final, but these are hardly the same teams that faced off last season after blockbuster acquisitions for both sides. Both of these franchises have had their ups and downs all season long, and have equal reason to see themselves as Stanley Cup contenders, but who will can out on top over the course of a seven game series? Is it finally the Sharks time to make a run? Or will the Golden Knights triumph once more?

SAN JOSE, CA – MARCH 30: Marc-Edouard Vlasic #44, Joonas Donskoi #27, Logan Couture #39 and Brent Burns #88 of the San Jose Sharks celebrate scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights at SAP Center on March 30, 2019 in San Jose, California (Photo by Brandon Magnus/NHLI via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA – MARCH 30: Marc-Edouard Vlasic #44, Joonas Donskoi #27, Logan Couture #39 and Brent Burns #88 of the San Jose Sharks celebrate scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights at SAP Center on March 30, 2019 in San Jose, California (Photo by Brandon Magnus/NHLI via Getty Images) /

San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks are down to possibly their final season of true Stanley Cup contention with their aging core, and loaded up in in the off-season for what could be a last gap effort at what would be the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

The Sharks finished second in the Pacific division with 101 points, qualifying for the post season for a third consecutive season.

The Sharks declared themselves to be all-in this season after acquiring Erik Karlsson from the Ottawa Senators, giving them one of the best defense cores in the league by placing him alongside the likes of Brent Burns and Marc Edouard-Vlasic. The Sharks were the consensus pick to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference and a popular preseason pick to represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Final. For a decent portion of the season, the Sharks were able to live up to those expectations.

The Sharks later acquired Gustav Nyquist from the Detroit Red Wings at the trade deadline as the final piece to their already deep roster, giving them ability to run at least three dangerous scoring lines, bolstered by their all-star defense. The Sharks offense finished tied for second in the league in goals for with 289, but rank 21st in goals allowed with 261.

Despite their strengths, the Sharks went ice cold down the stretch, mainly due to several injuries down the stretch. After being a point up on the Calgary Flames for the lead in the Pacific division and Western Conference with a month remaining, the Sharks finished the season with a meager 3-8-1 record and fell way behind the race, matching them up with the dangerous Golden Knights rather than the bottom seed Avalanche.

Despite their injuries, that won’t be an issue in the playoffs. Timo Meier was held out of the final game of the season, but he’s still expected to be ready to go by Game 1. However, they’ll still be without Radim Simek after his season ending knee surgery back in early March. Regardless, the Sharks are still one of the deepest teams in the league on paper, and injuries won’t be an excuse if they can’t the job done this time. The pieces are all in place, and now is the time for the Sharks to finish the job, because they may not get another chance after this season.

X-Factor

Even with how deep the Sharks are on paper, their biggest concern lies in net with Martin Jones. Jones posted a career worst .896 save percentage over 62 games, the second worst among goalies who played at least 46 games. The Sharks have had success this season despite Jones, but their success this postseason hinges on his ability to bounce back from what was a disastrous regular season. On the bright side, his playoff save percentage over his 40 career playoff games is an outstanding .926.

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