By Matthew T.F. Harrington
photo credit: nj.com/devils–New Jersey goaltender Keith Kinkaid who threw a shutout at the San Jose Sharks Thursday night stops one of 30 shots
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Despite nearly a 2-to-1 shooting advantage, the San Jose Sharks were blanked by the New Jersey Devils 3-0 at home Thursday night. Sharks goalie Martin Jones made 13 saves on 15 shots, but the Sharks (37-24-6) dropped their 15th game of the season at the SAP Center on a goal from Devante Smith-Pelly and two from Travis Zajac. Keith Kinkaid picked up his second career shutout starting in place of injured Devils netminder Corey Schneider.
“We had not one or two, but a bunch of guys off,” said Sharks coach Peter DeBoer. “That’s real. (The Devils) were a hungry team. They were rested, sitting here waiting. They were desperate, they were hungry. They played a hard, heavy game.”
The Sharks went on the power play three times, but failed to beat the suffocating New Jersey defensive system. San Jose threw the puck on the 26-year-old Kinkaid 30 times, including 7 chances on the power play but failed to beat the third-year goalie.
“We were just looking for that one goal on the power,” said Sharks captain Joe Pavelski. “Or 5-on-5 where it was going to crack them. But we could have been better. We could have had more jump and been harder in more areas.”
Despite a limited offensive output, the Devils (32-29-7) were able to beat Jones 3:14 into the 2nd after a Smith-Pelly shot from the wing found its way through a crowd into the back of the net. Stephen Gionta and Mike Sislo assisted on Smith-Pelly’s 9th of the season.
“A team like that, they get the first one it just makes it harder to play against them,” said defenseman Paul Martin on New Jersey’s defensive system. “They’re good at shutting down plays, not giving up too much. For us to have the start we had was not what we wanted.”
Zajac scored his first of the game on a pass attempt from behind the net that hit defenseman Paul Martin’s leg. During the ensuing scramble, Jones tried to pull the loose puck off the goal line before it crossed over for a score. After video review, the officials ruled the puck did cross the goal line for a 2-0 New Jersey lead 1:35 into the 3rd period.
“I didn’t even see it or watch it afterwards,” said Martin. “I know it hit me then crossed the line before Jones grabbed it. It’s one of those things where we need to be more clean in our own end. This was a sloppy game in general for us from the start.”
It was the first shot on goal in over 18 minutes for the Devils.
“It’s a stat you don’t recognize,” said Pavelski. “They’re not getting a whole lot out there. A couple looks they did find ways to get them in. That’s all that really mattered.”
Zajac would score his 2nd goal of the game (and 12th of the season) with Jones pulled and 53 seconds remaining in regulation.
The Sharks couldn’t continue the momentum they built from a two-game sweep of the two Alberta teams after beating the Calgary Flames Monday night and the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday.
“It’s always tough, the first game at home after a road trip,” said Martin. “No Matter how long it is. We’ve been successful on the road. It takes a lot out of us winning those games and finding ways to win on the road. I think we take it for granted. It’s expected that the same thing is going to happen at home without the same effort or intensity.”
While none of the players could answer definitely why the team has underperformed at home this year, most responses came down to the quality of the ice. The SAP Center now hosts the Sharks AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, which has led to a degradation in the ice quality noted by visiting teams and now the tenants of SAP.
“The ice was not the way we’d like it to be,” said Martin. “But everyone is playing on the same ice. We just need to find a way.”
When asked if the team would adjust its pass-heavy, speed-based offense, coach had a different solution.
“Maybe fix the ice, how about that?” joked DeBoer.
The ice won’t be fixed, if ever, before the Sharks next home game Saturday. San Jose takes on the Eastern Conference leaders the Washington Capitals before facing the Atlantic Division-leading Boston Bruins Tuesday night at home. While there won’t be changes to the ice, the Sharks will hope for changes to their game.
“I’m sure there’s a few things we can fix up and be better at,” said Pavelski. “We’ve got a big game ahead of us Saturday.”
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