Despite a 4-3-0 record, the San Jose Sharks haven’t won without extra time, but their best chance to change that could come on Saturday.
The six-game road trip continues against the Detroit Red Wings, who are 2-3-2 in their first seven games. Their summer was filled with controversy as now-former captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade. He’s still with the winged wheel, but his future remains unknown.
The Wings are also playing without top-pair D-man Simon Edvinsson, who isn’t signed and “prefers” a trade.
1. Offense must continue strong trend against decent defense
If the San Jose Sharks want to walk away from Saturday’s game with a regulation win, they must keep putting on strong offensive showings. Against the Nashville Predators on Thursday, the team scored only two goals but generated much more.
Detroit has allowed only 21 goals this season, enough to tie for 6th best in the Eastern Conference. But that should bode well for the Sharks, who have been looking for better defensive outcomes.
San Jose’s offense can help by scoring goals. The Red Wings have scored just 16 goals this season, tied for 4th-worst in the NHL. If the Sharks can build a multi-goal lead early, the Red Wings’ chances of coming back drop.
2. If Allan stays in, can he repeat his performance?
Arguably the least-talked-about player in the San Jose Sharks’ shootout win on Tuesday was Nolan Allan. The defenseman played his third game of the season, coming in for the injured Darnell Nurse.
His play won’t jump off the box score, but analytically, he was a darling.
According to Moneypuck.com. Allan’s 75.61 xGF was the highest of any player on the Sharks at 5v5. After a strong training camp, the former first-round pick continues to quietly do his job well. If Nurse returns from an upper-body injury on Saturday, Allan could stay in the lineup, with other defensemen as healthy-scratch options.
Puck drop is scheduled for 4 p.m. PT.