By Matthew T.F. Harrington

photo credit: San Jose Mercury News San Jose goaltender Martin Jones

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Forgive the Canadian press for blowing the San Jose Sharks February 27^th acquisition of James Reimer from the Toronto Maple Leafs as a sign that the team wanted to run with a 1A-1B goalie system. They after all witnessed him single-handedly force a 7-game series against the Boston Bruins in 2013 and push Leafs trade acquisition Jonathan Bernier for the starter’s role in the 3 seasons they both have worn the leafed crest. Current Sharks netminder Martin Jones has made one thing perfectly clear with his recent play; the San Jose net belongs to him and him alone.

Jones turned aside 28 of 30 Vancouver shots in a 3-2 victory Thursday night over the Vancouver Canucks, his second win just outside of his hometown of North Vancouver in five days. The 26 –year-old netminder was especially terrific in the final two minutes of the game with the Canucks net vacant and an extra attacker on the ice.

“He was outstanding tonight,” said Sharks coach Peter DeBoer. “He made 2 or 3 huge saves in the 3rd period. That’s game changing. He’s given us that kind of goaltending most of the year.”

Since acquiring Reimer, all the 6-foot-4 keeper has done is go 3-0 with a 1.67 goals against average and a .935 save percentage. Jones doesn’t believe recent events have any correlation with his stellar surge between the pipes.

“I play to win every game,” said Jones when asked if Reimer’s addition gave him any added incentive. “I play the same way every game”

Jones has now played in the last 10 Sharks games, going 7-2-1 during that stretch while allowing just 21 goals. Twice during that run he has played in consecutive nights, allowing 6 goals total in the second half of those back-to-back match-ups. This season, he has appeared in consecutive games 5 times, with the Sharks going 2-3 as a team in those contests. The addition of Reimer gives the Sharks the opportunity to rest Jones, who has appeared in more games this season (54) than he has in his first two seasons in the league combined (34).

“It’s not tough enough,” said DeBoer when asked how hard it will be to sit Jones for the new goalie in town. “I know we can’t wear this guy out. He’s played a lot of hockey for us this year.”

While the sudden increase in workload could make a keeper weary, Jones sees it as an advantage.

“I feel good,” said Jones after the Sharks win Thursday. “Any time you play lots of games, you get a better feel for the game.”

When the deal was completed and Reimer and Jeremy Morin came to San Jose for Ben Smith, backup goalie Alex Stalock and a conditional draft pick, the Sharks were looking forward to hockey yet to be played. They recognized the uncertainty of how Jones would hold up for a postseason run amidst a career-high workload. The Sharks are battling for the Pacific Division’s 2^nd place playoff spot and were just 4 points back of the Los Angeles Kings for the division lead entering play Thursday. Reimer and his 2.49 goals against average gives the Sharks the type of insurance the team didn’t feel they had with Stalock (3-5, 2.98 GAA this season).

“Everything we do now is to prepare for the playoffs the best we can,” said Jones. “We want to make sure our game is in good shape coming down the stretch here. We want to clinch that playoff spot. Everything we do now is preparing for the end of the season and getting ready for the playoffs.”

If (or more likely when) San Jose does make the playoffs, game 1 will be the first postseason start for Jones. Simply getting the Sharks to that point after missing out last season will be both a justification for the offseason deal that brought him over from Boston Bruins and the deadline deal that nabbed the Sharks Reimer. One thing is for certain, Jones will be the one manning the crease and he’ll be on the ice looking to win.